Centre, not states, should control drug production, moots revised Draft Bill

However, the sale of drugs, cosmetics and medical devices will continue to be regulated by the respective state governments, according to the revised draft of the New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023

NEW DELHI: The Centre has proposed that the country’s apex drug regulatory body, CDSCO, be empowered to regulate the manufacture of drugs or cosmetics, instead of the state drug regulators as is the practice currently, according to the revised draft of a Bill that has been sent for interministerial consultations.

However, the sale of drugs, cosmetics and medical devices will continue to be regulated by the respective state governments, according to the revised draft of the New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace the existing Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.

Further, the provision of taking permission to operate an e-pharmacy has been removed and replaced with the words — central government may regulate, restrict or prohibit the sell, stocking, exhibiting or offer for sale or distribution of any drug by online mode by notification — according to the Draft Bill.

The draft of New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill was placed in the public domain in July last year, seeking feedback from the stakeholders.

The Union health ministry and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) received several comments from the stakeholders on the Draft Bill, which was revised accordingly by the ministry and sent for interministerial consultations.