Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 05:55 AM IST

  India   With PM’s push, 1940 Cosmetics Act likely to be revamped

With PM’s push, 1940 Cosmetics Act likely to be revamped

Published : Apr 16, 2016, 5:48 am IST
Updated : Apr 16, 2016, 5:48 am IST

Passed by Parliament in 1940, the existing Drugs and Cosmetics Act is all set to get revamped, with the government considering a new legislation at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Passed by Parliament in 1940, the existing Drugs and Cosmetics Act is all set to get revamped, with the government considering a new legislation at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While it had introduced the existing bill in the Rajya Sabha with several amendments to its 1940 Act to regulate import, export, manufacture, sale of drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, a group of ministers recently at the behest of the Prime Minister have asked the health ministry to target a fresh legislation. “The government is considering a new bill to replace the existing Act. The GoM, under the directions of the PM, have asked the health ministry to come up with the new legislation. The health ministry had earlier proposed about 100-odd amendment to the existing bill, considering this, the GoM has asked us to target a new bill rather than going for 100 amendment,” a senior health ministry official said.

Ironically, health experts say that the new legislation is “highly unlikely” to see the light of the day.

“Despite all the amendment taken place since 1940, it is still divided between the Central and the state licensing drug authorities. Certain functions such as marketing approval of new drugs, approvals of regulation of drug products, approval of clinical trials etc is handled by CDSCO while licensing and moitoring of pharmaceutical manufactueres retail chain and quality control is dealt with the state drug authority. The Central government had tried many times to increase its role which is not acceptable to the states that is why it has not moved at all. It would have been possible if one party was running most of the states. However, in light of all the factors, the new legislation is highly unlikely to come through,” said Monthly Index of Medical Specialties editor C.M. Ghulati. The government had earlier proposed to expand the scope of the Act by covering new areas, proposing to “regulate the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and conduct of clinical trials and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi