The Central Government, in consultation with the Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board, has introduced an amendment to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The amendment aims to modify the First and Second Schedules of the Act. This amendment was published on December 9, 2024.
It may be recalled, that the Central Government had proposed this amendment on January 12, 2024 and had invited objections or suggestions from the general public before it’s finalization. Now, by the present notification, the Central Government has finalized this amendment.
Key Points of the Amendment
The First Schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act has been amended to include a new section “C. —HOMOEOPATHIC SYSTEM.” This section lists 20 authoritative books that will be considered references for Homoeopathic medicines.
The First Schedule also includes a new section “D. SOWA-RIGPA SYSTEM.” This section lists 34 authoritative texts in their original language for the Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine. A transliteration is provided for ease of reference, but the original language remains the official source.
The Second Schedule of the Act has been updated to acknowledge the “French Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia” and the “European Pharmacopeia” as additional sources for defining Homoeopathic drugs, alongside the existing “German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia.”
This inclusion brings the regulation of Homoeopathic and Sowa-Rigpa medicines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. This can potentially improve the quality, safety, and standardization of these medicines in India.
