To Fight Fake Medicines, India Plans Tighter Rules For Pharma Packaging
To Fight Fake Medicines, India Plans Tighter Rules For Pharma Packaging Reported By, Last Updated: July 11, 2026, 07:30 IST A DCC subcommittee will examine
To Fight Fake Medicines, India Plans Tighter Rules For Pharma Packaging Reported By, Last Updated: July 11, 2026, 07:30 IST A DCC subcommittee will examine the feasibility of an online registration framework to prevent the diversion and misuse of pharmaceutical packaging materials Printed pharmaceutical packaging—including cartons, labels, blister foils, strips, and inserts—plays a key role in identifying medicines and distinguishing genuine products from fake ones. Regulatory authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over the circulation of spurious and counterfeit medicines that closely resemble genuine products. (Representational image) To crack down on counterfeit medicines, India is considering mandatory registration of manufacturers and suppliers of printed pharmaceutical packaging materials. According to the minutes of the 69th Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting, seen by News18, the panel has recommended constituting a subpanel to examine the feasibility of the proposal and suggest a regulatory framework before any decision is taken. Recent months have seen multiple incidents involving counterfeit medicines. For instance, Uttar Pradesh authorities had seized fake Chymoral Forte and Gudcef Plus, arresting two people.
Also, Indian regulators busted a racket involving fake Mounjaro pens, recovering counterfeit packaging labels and raw materials. However, the industry is sceptical about whether the move to regulate printing and packaging could help. “The concern of the government is rightly placed, but it is not possible to regulate the printing market, as the market is huge and printers also work for other sectors such as FMCG. It is unclear how the government will bring all printing companies under drug laws," an industry veteran told News18, adding that the incident of counterfeit medicines from India has been increasing. “Top pharmaceutical companies are worried about their reputation. Exactly similar-looking products but fake have been circulated in domestic as well as international markets. Hence, the move is in the right direction." What is the proposal? According to the minutes of the 69th DCC meeting, the expert panel was apprised about a proposal to introduce “an online registration framework for manufacturers/suppliers of printed pharmaceutical packaging materials used for drugs".
The matter was deliberated, as per the document, and it was recommended to constitute a subcommittee to evaluate the feasibility of the proposal for introducing an online registration framework for manufacturers/suppliers of printed pharmaceutical packaging materials used for drugs in light of the definition of “drug" and “manufacture" under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The subcommittee, according to the document, also invites experts from industry, including the packaging industry, and if required, the opinion of a legal expert may also be taken. The subcommittee has been asked to submit its report on “The necessity and feasibility of such registration" along with suggestions for an “appropriate regulatory framework for insertion under the Drugs Rules, 1945, by way of amendment". It has also asked for “any other measures considered necessary to prevent diversion and misuse of pharmaceutical packaging materials in the manufacture and circulation of spurious and counterfeit drugs, if such regulation is not feasible". Now, the report of the subcommittee—once ready—will be placed before the DCC for further deliberation.
The BriefWire