Health Ministry moots Centre or state bodies be empowered to regulate drugs, cosmetics production

New Delhi, 19/7: The Union Health Ministry has mooted that either the Centre or state authorities be empowered to regulate the production of drugs and cosmetics, changing its earlier proposal of allowing only the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to do so.

As of now, all manufacturing activities relating to drugs and cosmetics are regulated by only the state governments through their drug control organisations, official sources told PTI.

The draft Bill also mentions that the Central government may regulate, restrict or prohibit selling, stocking, exhibiting or offering sale or distribution of any drug online by notification.

The latest draft of the New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, is yet to be approved by the Cabinet.