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 Legal Metrology Division has clarified that the label declaration of “Manufactured by” is not required if the complete name and address of the brand owner is provided with the words “Marketed by” or “Brand Owner.” The declaration of manufacturer is a mandatory declaration under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
Source: urli.info/1jgRA

2. The Department of Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology Division, has clarified through the recently released Frequently Asked Questions that omission or obscuring of the maximum retail price is permissible on packages marked “Not for Retail Sale–For Institutional Customers Only” or “Evaluation Samples–Not for Sale”.
Source: urli.info/1jgRA

3. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued draft Insecticides (Amendment) Rules, 2025, proposing to extend the compliance deadline for registration and related requirements under Insecticides Rules, 1971 from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2026. Stakeholders may submit objections or suggestions within 30 days.
Source: urli.info/1jh3Q

4. The Gujarat High Court has held that healthcare services provided by private hospitals to in-patients are composite contracts, where the supply of medicines, implants, and consumables constitutes a “deemed sale” of goods embedded within the service, and hospitals are liable to pay VAT on the goods transferred during treatment as a works contract.
Source: urli.info/1eta4

5. India’s Delhi High Court directed Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) to frame a uniform policy on whether imports of products like “body massagers” or “sex toys” should be permitted or prohibited, noting inconsistent Customs practices. The Court said such decisions must follow national and contemporary standards, not the subjective discretion of individual officials.
Source: rb.gy/opp4oe

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.

Body massagers cannot be ‘sex toys’ just because they can have alternative use: High Court

In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court has held that body massagers cannot be treated as ‘sex toys’ merely because they can be used for alternative purposes. While coming to this conclusion, the Court observed that it would be incorrect to classify massagers
as items of objectionable description or as obscene figures in the absence of any substantial justification.

Source: bit.ly/3Vvxp9k

Homeopathy practitioners cannot present themselves as gynaecologist; amounts to medical negligence and deficiency in service: State Consumer Commission

The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Lucknow (SCDRC) has taken the view that cross-practicing of medicine by doctors trained in branches other than allopathy constitutes medical negligence and a deficiency in service. SCDRC imposed a compensation of Rs. 30 Lakhs on a city-based private nursing home and a homeopathy practitioner for medical negligence. The practitioner misrepresented herself as a gynaecologist, and prescribed allopathic medicines. The SCDRC held both the practitioner and the nursing home liable for their negligence and deficiency in service.

Source: bit.ly/3xavblG

A leading ayurvedic Indian FMCG company has tendered an unconditional apology for its misleading advertisement to Supreme Court

Following a contempt notice on misleading advertisements and the issue of summons, the co-founders of a major ayurvedic FMCG company have tendered an unconditional apology for the company’s misleading advertising practices. The Supreme Court had directed that the co-founders of the company appear personally before the Court on the date of the next hearing. 

Source: bit.ly/43vV5wj 

Government proposes ban on 23 dangerous dog breeds in India

The Indian Government proposed a ban on 23 dog breeds in the country that are deemed “dangerous for human life” in an effort to address the growing number of dog attack cases. Additionally, the government has urged state governments to desist from granting licenses or permits for the sale and breeding of these dog breeds. 

Source: bit.ly/43xEjgi 

Draft Resolution introduced by the UN General Assembly on Artificial Intelligence

The UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure the technology benefits all nations while respecting human rights and ensuring safety.
Co-sponsored by 123 states, the resolution was adopted by consensus without a vote. Recently, the European Parliament has also taken steps to adopt the Artificial Intelligence Act, considered the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for AI.

Source: bit.ly/490W88s