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 Drugs Standard Control Organization clarified that labelling, overprinting, or stickering is strictly permitted for imported drugs. These activities require a valid manufacturing license, appropriate facilities, and adherence to labelling norms. Original labels must remain visible to maintain regulatory transparency and ensure clear identification of modifications and responsibilities.
Source: bit.ly/4kjfBYw

2. The Himachal Pradesh High Court held that vicarious liability for supplying substandard drugs requires proof that an individual was responsible for the company’s operations. Without such evidence, partners cannot be held liable, and only the company itself can be prosecuted for manufacturing or selling defective drugs.
Source: bit.ly/3Hfap9o

3. India’s Ministry of Health has released draft Drugs Rules proposing mandatory testing for bacterial endotoxins or pyrogens in injectable drugs. The rules require drug sales to be supervised by a competent person, with timely reporting of any changes. Exemptions apply to non-antimicrobial drugs used in food and beverage manufacturing. Feedback from stakeholders invited by June 30, 2025.
Source: bit.ly/4jomruw

4. West Bengal’s Drugs Control Administration mandates wholesalers and retailers to verify QR codes on top-selling brands and ensure purchases through authorized channels, aiming to curb counterfeit drug circulation.
Source: bit.ly/4krbkCj

5. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seized products worth ₹90 lakh from a Bengaluru warehouse for allegedly using the ISI mark without authorization, raising concerns for compliance in product sourcing and labelling across industries.
Source: bit.ly/4jppfr4

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 Supreme Court of India has ruled that company directors and officials are not vicariously liable for corporate offences without specific statutory provisions and evidence of personal involvement. While companies may be held accountable for employee’s misconduct, directors’ liability requires proof of their direct actions. Mere association with the company is insufficient to attract a liability.
Source: bit.ly/3PvHNJK

2. The Supreme Court of India, while hearing a PIL against multinational pharmaceutical companies, raised ethical concerns over clinical trials in poorer countries. It highlighted the exploitation of vulnerable populations and the lack of oversight in such practices thereby urging stricter regulations to protect participants’ rights. The Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019, notified under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, mandate provisions like Ethics Committees and compensation for trial-related injuries or deaths.
Source: bit.ly/3DNYBt4

3. The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has initiated contempt proceedings against a prominent Indian law firm for allegedly misquoting a 2010 judgment related to the Sawalkote Hydro-Electric Project. The court observed that the law firm had misrepresented judicial findings in a legal notice that was issued by the court which might potentially amount to criminal contempt.
Source: bit.ly/423xnZz

4. The Bombay High Court emphasized that intelligence levels should not determine parental rights while deciding a case involving a woman’s right to motherhood with borderline intellectual disability. The court reviewed a petition seeking termination of the woman’s 21-week pregnancy, with a medical report confirming her fitness for pregnancy.
Source: bit.ly/3Cb5Evd

5. India’s healthcare stakeholders, ahead of Budget 2025, are urging reduced customs duties (~37%) on advanced cancer therapies, drugs, and treatment equipment. They seek tax reforms, including GST rationalization, increased healthcare spending to 2.5-3% of GDP, long-term financing options, telemedicine expansion, and infrastructure incentives. Emphasis is also laid on digital health and preventive care to ensure equitable access nationwide
Source: bit.ly/4gJousH