The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has released a draft notification proposing to permit the import of drugs through Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram Airports. This draft notification was published on February 27, 2024.
The proposed amendments have been introduced in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. These amendments have been formulated in consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board and are now open for public review and feedback.
The proposed amendment seeks to include Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram airports for the purposes of locations through which drugs may be imported. At present, drugs can be imported only through airports located at Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam.
This expansion reflects the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical activities and ensures comprehensive regulatory coverage across multiple regions.
The draft rules are now available for public scrutiny and will be open for consideration till March 28, 2024. Interested stakeholders, including industry professionals, organizations, and the general public, are encouraged to submit their objections and suggestions within the specified timeframe.
Objections and suggestions can be addressed to the Under Secretary (Drugs), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Room No. 434, C Wing, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi – 110011, or emailed to drugsdiv-mohfw@gov.in.
Upon receiving and reviewing the feedback, the Central Government will assess the proposed amendments to ensure they align with the objectives of enhancing drug regulation and safeguarding public health interests.
