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 The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has released a draft guidance document outlining regulatory pathways, quality standards, and risk management requirements for Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and Software in a Medical Device (SiMD). Stakeholders are requested to submit feedback within 30 days.
Source: h7.cl/1iyvi

2. India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, to exempt medical devices from the standard packaging declaration requirements. Packages containing medical devices will adhere to the Medical Devices Rules for height and width of numerals and letters used in declarations. This amendment will ensure regulatory consistency and eliminate duplication of compliance requirements.
Source: h7.cl/1iyuq

3. The Health Ministry has issued draft amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, proposing that oral formulations with over 12% v/v ethyl alcohol and packed in bottles over 30 ml will be excluded from Schedule K and included in Schedule H1 for prescription-only sale. Stakeholders are requested to submit comments within 30 days.
Source: h7.cl/1dNdh

4. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has amended the list of “White Category” of industries, which are exempted from air pollution consent requirements. Now the list includes 86 non-polluting sectors, such as food packaging, small bakeries, etc. to simplify compliance, especially for MSMEs.
Source: h7.cl/1dNcN

5. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently issued an order introducing a dedicated “seasonal food business” registration category in the FoSCoS portal. Effective from August 01, 2025, the provision allows retailers and food vending agencies at fairs and festivals to register for up to three months by paying a ₹100 fee.
Source: h7.cl/1dNdx

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) has released draft guidelines on Good Clinical Practices Rules to align India’s clinical trial rules with international standards. The draft is open for comments by October 12, 2024.
Source: https://bit.ly/3XpPdSr

2. India’s premier consumer forum ordered a major medical device manufacturer to pay compensation to one of the claimants who had suffered adverse reactions as a result of faults in the surgical-implants which they had received from it.
Source: https://bit.ly/3ztLCe5

3. India’s statutory body regulating medical education, National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued revised guidelines removing sodomy and lesbianism from the category of unnatural sexual offences from its curriculum of medical education.
Source: https://bit.ly/3Xr5Kp7

4. India’s union health ministry has expanded the health insurance scheme under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to cover citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income. The ministry will issue new, unique cards to senior citizens for the availment of the benefit.
Source: https://bit.ly/3XsD2nQ

5. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid. The hearing aid will be integrated into the hearing device of a giant electronic brand through software updates allowing the device to function as personalised hearing aid. The feature is aimed at helping users with their perceived mild-to-moderate hearing impairment.
Source: https://bit.ly/4e2LEsn