The Central Government strictly regulates the import of drugs and cosmetics in India to protect public health. These rules ensure that only safe, effective, and high-quality products enter the country. The regulations apply from a date notified in the Official Gazette.
Which Drug Comes Under Prohibited Imports
No person can import any drug or cosmetic that does not meet the standard quality. The law bans the import of misbranded, adulterated, or spurious drugs and cosmetics. Import without a valid licence is not allowed where such a licence is prescribed. Patent or proprietary medicines must display the true formula or list of active ingredients with quantities.
The law also prohibits products that make false claims to cure or prevent prescribed diseases. Cosmetics containing unsafe ingredients are banned. Any drug or cosmetic prohibited under the rules cannot be imported. However, small quantities may be allowed for examination, testing, or personal use.
What Is The Government’s Power to Ban Imports
The Central Government can ban the import of any drug or cosmetic if it poses a risk to humans or animals. The ban can also apply if the product lacks the claimed therapeutic value or contains ingredients without medical justification. Such bans are notified in the Official Gazette in the public interest.
What Is Customs Enforcement
The laws governing sea customs apply to prohibited drugs and cosmetics. Customs officers have the same powers over such products as they have for prohibited goods. They can detain suspicious packages and report them to the Drugs Controller of India. If needed, they can send samples to the Central Drugs Laboratory for testing.
The Central Government, after consulting the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, can make rules to implement these provisions. In urgent situations, it can frame rules without prior consultation but must consult the Board within six months.
The rules may specify drugs or cosmetics that require an import licence and set licence conditions, fees, and cancellation procedures. They can define testing methods, standardisation units, and allowable colours. They can list diseases for which drugs cannot claim cures, set import points, and regulate packaging, labelling, and poisonous substance limits.
The rules may also require manufacturing and expiry dates, set storage procedures for detained products, prescribe evidence of quality, and allow conditional exemptions for products in transit. They can ensure that scientific names appear on labels and regulate packaging materials that contact the product directly. For any specific query call at +91 – 8569843472
Conclusion
India’s drug and cosmetic import laws protect consumers from unsafe and misleading products. The Central Government has wide powers to prohibit, regulate, and inspect imports in the public interest. These measures ensure that only safe, effective, and high-quality products reach the Indian market.
