TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear  Readers, we are happy to share the most interesting legal and policy updates concerning health industry that we read today. We hope you enjoy reading it.

1. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has urged the Indian government to introduce a legislation to regulate the preservation and disposal of blood in the country. Currently, the sale and disposal of blood is governed by executive instructions issued as guidelines by Centre and State governments.
Source: bit.ly/3TSStVv

2. India’s Central Pollution Control Board has further extended the timeline for filing the Annual Returns for Plastic Packaging Waste for the FY 2023-2024 for Producers, Importers and Brand Owners with Extended Producers Responsibility Registration to 30th November 2024. Previously, this deadline had been extended from 30th June 2024 to 30th September 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3JqZRBH

3. India’s Central Drugs Control Authority may reportedly direct drug regulators across all States and Union Territories (UTs) for uniform implementation of norms for new drugs, specifically regarding the approval of gastro-resistant and delayed-release dosage forms under the New Drugs and Clinical Trial (NDCT) Rules, 2019. The 64th Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting highlighted inconsistencies in the approval process for these products, which are classified as “New Drugs.”
Source: bit.ly/3XPOtq4

4. India’s Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) for Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and doctors regarding the medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) for timely abortions and proper implementation of existing laws.
Source: bit.ly/47MSBvk

5. India’s National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Human Organ Transportation by various modes like air, ambulance/ other vehicle, Trains, etc. The SOP includes standardized packaging, mandatory labelling with detailed donor and recipient information, handling of organ box and requirement of a medical personnel to accompany the organs along with necessary documentation.
Source: bit.ly/3BovUBR

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear Readers, we are happy to share the most interesting legal and policy updates concerning health industry that we read today. We hope you enjoy reading it.

1. India’s Central Drug Regulator (CDSCO) is set to develop guidelines for the safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste which are expired and unused drugs and medicines, to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Source: bit.ly/3yOlfPY

2. The Indian Health Ministry has reportedly stated that 156 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs recently banned were licensed by the State Licensing Authorities (SLA) without prior approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
Source: bit.ly/3Xl6Xj7

3. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification will be mandatory for medical textile products covered by Quality Control Order from 1st October 2024. The products that will require certification and BIS mark are sanitary napkins, reusable sanitary pads/sanitary napkins, period panties, baby diapers, hospital bed linens, pillow covers, dental bibs and shoe covers intended for medical use.
Source: bit.ly/4e3FI1U

4. India’s major pharma companies have requested the Delhi High Court to quash the government’s recent notification banning 156 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs. They have also sought interim relief in their petitions to exhaust the stock that was manufactured before the notification came into effect, prohibiting any coercive measures against retailers and stockists until the stock is exhausted.
Source: bit.ly/3yUZFcw

5. India’s Central Pollution Control Board has issued a show cause notice to producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) of plastic packaging, requiring them to file annual reports and fulfill Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations for the financial year 2022-2023 by September 1, 2024. Failure to comply will result in the imposition of environmental compensation (EC) and additional penalties.
Source: bit.ly/3XmQ5bF
Source: bit.ly/3XmQc75
Source: bit.ly/3yUZAWg

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear Reader, We are happy to share the most interesting legal and policy updates concerning health industry that we read today. We hope you enjoy  reading it.

Draft GDP guidelines for pharmaceutical products published for comments

India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has released a draft guidance document titled “Guidelines on good distribution practices for pharmaceutical products” for comments. The Guidelines seek to eliminate the introduction of spurious, adulterated, misbranded and non-standard quality (NSQ) products into the market. It is intended to be applicable to all entities involved in any aspect of the storage and distribution of pharmaceutical products, including manufacturer as well as pharmacists and any other person dispensing medical products directly to a patient.
Source: bit.ly/4cQwypM

Agreements with Shared Workspace Providers accepted as valid proof of premises for obtaining food licenses
India’s central food regulatory authority, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has issued an advisory on the documents that may be submitted as proof of premises by importers, traders, e-commerce entities, re-labellers etc. who deal in food products and operate out of a shared workspace premises. Going forward, any legally valid agreement with workspace provider will be accepted. Such agreement may be a lease or rent agreement. However, entities who operate out of shared work-space will not be able to stock food products in shared workspace under the license.
Source: bit.ly/3JkMpzp

Documents which will be accepted as proof of possession of premises for food business is specified by Central Food Regulator
India’s central food regulatory authority, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has identified documents which will be accepted as proof of possession of premises by a Food Business Operator (FBO) as part of the food license application. Any food business operator, undertaking any business of food or beverage, including hotels, restaurants, food vending establishments, clubs, canteens, importers, merchant, exporters, e-commerce operators, transporters has to submit proof of possession of premise in order to obtain corresponding food license.
Source: bit.ly/3UiCgte

Waste management portals for plastic packaging and e-waste to get operational in a phase wise manner
India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has clarified that the Extended Producer Responsibility portals for the management of Plastic Packaging waste and E-waste will get operational in a phase wise manner. For plastic packaging waste the portal is only functional for Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Goa & Puducherry whereas for e-waste the portal is operational for Maharashtra only. The users of the portal for other states are requested to wait till further notice.
Source: bit.ly/3JqZRBH
Source: bit.ly/3Jl1Es4

Popular protein supplements sold in India found to have lesser quantity of protein than declared on the label
A recent study has found that many popular brands of protein supplements sold in the Indian market do not have the same amount of protein as claimed on the label. In addition to the inconsistencies related to protein content, the study also found evidence of protein spiking, fungal toxins, pesticide residues, presence of heavy metals and compounds in protein supplements manufactured in India.
Source: bit.ly/3vU24CC