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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.

Delay condonation should be evaluated based on reasons provided and not merits of case: Supreme Court
In a recent decision, the Supreme Court held that in condoning delay for a filing for which limitation period has been stipulated under the Limitation Act, 1963, a Court should not base its decision on whether such delay has been condoned in a similar matter, evaluating delay on merits of the fact situation, but rather each delay should be evaluated on the grounds pleaded in the application for its condonation.
Source: bit.ly/49MllnH

Central Government to take strict action against non-compliance with quality maintenance in manufacture of fire-resistant fabrics raw material
The Indian Central Government is intending to take stringent action against violators of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Quality Control Order for raw material used to manufacture fire-resistant fabric used in upholstery used in commercial spaces such as cinema halls, conference halls etc. Pursuant to issue of this Quality Control Order, only those raw material that have been certified by the BIS may be used in manufacture of commercial space upholstery. However, this Quality Control Order does not apply to upholstery used in households or those manufactured for export.
Source: bit.ly/4cKT4R3

Indian Government partners with Quality Council of India to improve services at Central Government run hospitals
India’s Central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Quality Council of India, to help improve quality standards for healthcare delivery at government run hospitals and help the hospitals get accredited by the National Accreditation Body for Hospitals/ Laboratories.
Source: bit.ly/3Ub0ful

Prices of imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient see sharp decline due to action against cartelized manufacturers
Despite an increase in demand in the Indian domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sector for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), indicated by a 39% increase in year-on-year imports, the price of APIs being imported from China and other countries has reduced significantly to pre-COVID levels. This reduction is suspected to be caused by breaking-down of manufacturing cartels. This reduction in prices of API signifies an increase in profit margins for Indian firms which have traditionally been depended on Chinese imports.
Source: bit.ly/43Qlo0d

ECHR holds that inaction against climate change may be considered violation of human rights
The European Court of Human Rights has issued an award in favour of several Switzerland based petitioners who brought claims against their Government. The Court held that the European Convention on Human Rights envisages citizens right to be protected by their government against adverse effects of climate change. The petitioners had claimed that the inaction of the Swiss government and insufficient mitigation measures had caused a violation of the petitioners’ human rights, since such inaction by the government has increased their likelihood of dying of heat stroke.
Source: bit.ly/3JbMLZ6

Posted on

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.

E-Commerce websites instructed to avoid marketing Milk/ cereal/ malt based drinks as “Energy Drinks”
India’s Food Standards Regulator (the Food Safety Standards Authority of India) has issued an advisory to e-commerce websites, requiring them to ensure that proprietary foods, i.e. foods that are not categorized under the Food Standards Regulations, specifically those currently registered as analogues to milk/ cereal/ malt based beverage, should not be advertised as “Health Drink”/ “Energy Drink”, as only carbonated/ non-carbonated water-based flavoured drinks are regulated as “Health Drink” and “Energy Drink”.
Source: bit.ly/3xlfzvD

Drug Price Regulator may examine prevalent drug substitution and discounting prices offered by major drug retail stores in India
The Indian Central Drugs Regulator (CDSCO) has reportedly requested the Central Drugs Price Regulatory Body (NPPA) to investigate drug substitution and discounting practices of a major pharmacy chain on the basis a complaint raised by State Chemists and Druggists’ Association of the State of Karnataka (KCDA). In its complaint, the KCDA has alleged that the major pharmacy chain has been deliberately undercutting prices, sustained by substitution of prescribed drugs with other cheaper but identical formulations and unreasonably increasing its profit margins, which is currently violative of regulations applicable to pharmacists, as well as pricing norms of drugs.
Source: bit.ly/4cJSJOg

Vaccine manufacturers may have to provide manufacturing and sales data to government soon
The advisory body to India’s Central Drugs Regulator, the Drugs Consultative Committee, has requested various State-level Drug Licensing Authorities to ensure submission of details of the manufacture and sale of vaccines within the states to the Central Drugs regulator (Central Drugs Standards Control Organization), for the purpose of meeting obligation for the Global Benchmarking of Vaccines of the World Health Organization.
Source: bit.ly/3PJkAEw

Major Ayurvedic Medicine manufacturer may be on hook for contempt of court after Supreme Court rejects its apology for publishing misleading advertisements
In its ongoing proceedings against a major Ayurvedic medicine manufacturer for publication of misleading advertisements in contravention of undertaking given by it to the Supreme Court, the Court has refused to accept the apology which was tendered by the manufacturer, and rejected submissions of the manufacturer that: (1) The restriction on advertisement under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 is archaic and may be relaxed since the manufacturer now has scientific data to back its claims, and (2) that the manufacturer should not be held liable for an advertisement issued by an independent marketing department.
Source: bit.ly/4akJen5

Australia updates Medical Device Recall Procedure
The Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration, which regulates medical devices at the central level in the country, has published a revised version of the Uniform Recall Procedure for Therapeutic Goods (URPTG), which relaxes regulatory burden of importers and manufacturers of medical devices. The revised URPTG provides additional clarity on procedure for immediate recall, clarifying timing of release of recall information by the regulator, modifying Customer Response Forms, and eases the filing requirements under the law by making all templates for recall action publicly available on the website of regulator.
Source: bit.ly/3TAZJEo

Posted on

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.

Star-rating for energy efficiency on white goods to be under stricter government regulation

Indian Government may reportedly introduce rules for non-branded products to validate star rating for energy efficiency on white goods. White goods refer to household appliances of daily use such as air conditioners, refrigerators, television sets, etc. The National Test House (NTH), along with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), will conduct testing to help improve the quality of products and put a check on substandard products with a view to save energy.
Source: bit.ly/3TAWopa  

US FDA to train Indian drug regulators on cGMP inspection

The US FDA has invited drug regulators of the State of Gujarat, Telangana, Goa, and Karnataka to act as observers during checks and inspections of drug facilities in India, so that they develop a greater understanding of the US FDA inspection protocol.
Source: bit.ly/43FfvD9

GST officials should refrain from doing fishing inquiries: Government

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has reportedly issued a new guideline for GST officials stating that they should refrain from “fishing inquiries” to check evasion of goods and service tax (GST). The Guidelines state that tax officers should clearly state the nature of the investigation in formal letters to designated company officials and avoid using ambiguous language in letters and summons. Terms like “GST enquiry,” “evasion of GST,” or “GST evasion,” among others, should not be used in a letter sent to an ordinary taxpayer.
Source: bit.ly/3IZO9Og  

Indian Courts will be slow to intervene in enforcement of foreign arbitral awards on grounds of bias: Supreme Court 

India’s Supreme Court has held that intervention in enforcement of a foreign arbitral award on the grounds of bias should be discouraged. Indian courts will be permitted to entertain a claim for arbitral bias in an enforcement proceeding only after the ground has been raised before the arbitral tribunal. In order to assess arbitral bias, the Courts will have to prioritize international standards above domestic ones, even while it permits the execution of a foreign arbitral award. 
Source: bit.ly/3J48bqR  

Chemicals used to decaffeinate coffee beans may be banned in US 

Consumer Health Groups have petitioned US Food and Drug Administration to ban methylene chloride, a chemical which is used as additive to decaffeinate coffee beans, because it has been proven to cause cancer in rodents.
Source: bit.ly/3vx2n6a

Posted on

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.

India’s new criminal law regime to take effect from July 1, 2024
The three criminal laws, namely, Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam that will replace the erstwhile the Indian Penal Code, 1860; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898; and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively, will take effect from July 1, 2024. However, Section 106 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 which provides for punishment of “0-10 years” in “hit and run” cases, has been put on hold.
Source: bit.ly/3P13RMz
Source: bit.ly/3TbqvUU
Source: bit.ly/3wxhexO

Cosmetic Importers in India who are not directly authorized by foreign manufacturer must submit annual statement of import to Cosmetics Regulator
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a circular reminding cosmetics importers who have obtained Import Registration Number (IRN) in Form Cos-4A, that is on the strength of prior import registration issued to an importer authorized by the foreign manufacturer, to provide annual statement of cosmetics imported in India from date of grant of IRN. The importers have also been advised to furnish details such as number of consignments, imported quantity, total cost of imported cosmetics of each consignment, along with warehouse details.
Source: bit.ly/49L6bzl

Timeline for obtaining Standard Mark for sanitary napkins, baby diapers and reusable sanitary pad/napkins extended to 1st October.
India’s Ministry of Textiles has extended the date of enforcement of Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023 from 1st April to 1st October 2024. The said order requires that Foreign as well as Indian manufacturers of sanitary napkins, baby diapers and reusable sanitary pad/napkins to obtain a standard mark and label the products with a standard mark before the products are sold in India.
Source: bit.ly/3IjAWiV

Inspection of food manufacturers/processors in non-mandatory classes should be completed within 15 days: India’s food regulator
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory to State Food Licensing Authorities for processing licensing applications of manufacturers of food categories which do not warrant mandatory inspection such as prepared foods, Indian sweets, egg and egg products, foodstuff intended for nutritional supplements. The FSSAI has advised that such applications should ideally be cleared without inspection, but if for some reason an inspection is deemed to be warranted, then such inspection should be concluded within 15 days from date when the application is marked for inspection.
Source: bit.ly/3wwHNTN

Germany legalises private cultivation and recreational use of cannabis
Germany has passed a law legalizing cultivation of up to three cannabis plants and for owning 25 grams of cannabis for private consumption. The law also permits establishment of cannabis clubs to facilitate consumption with a cap of 500 members. Germany has become ninth country to legalise private recreational use of cannabis.
Source: bit.ly/3OSK6a3