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Government is to set up an Independent Drugs Regulatory Authority. Announcing this at a meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee here today, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said, there was a need to make drug regulation more stringent to ensure that quality and standards are met. Pointing out that India has the 4th biggest pharmaceutical industry in the world, he said, there was a need for regulation to keep pace with the growth in manufacturing. He said that the independent drugs authority will have a complete structure in the next two years and will function as a self-sustained regulatory mechanism.
The Minister said that he had a one hour discussion with the US Food and Drug Commissioner, during his recent visit to the United States. In the first phase, he said, the Health Ministry will initiate measures to replicate the mechanisms operational in the US-FDA and in the second phase, they will tie up with the US-FDA.
The Minister referred to the recent controversy relating to cosmetic products especially baby products and said, there was a need to enforce standards and ensure proper labeling. With newer inventions and newer diseases, there is a need to look at regulation for blood safety, stem cells banks, cosmetics and even medical devices, the Minister said.
The Ministry is soon to bring quality check on medical devices under the purview of the Drugs Controller of India.
The two-day meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee which is being attended by Drugs Controllers in the various States will deliberate on a wide range of National issues as well as certain issues related particularly to the concerned states. The meeting is likely to take a view on amendments to the labeling products under Rule 148 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to ensure that all ingredients in a cosmetic product are mentioned on the labels in the descending order.
EK/MK.
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