The Supreme Court recently stayed a Central government notification, whereby Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, was omitted.
The rule, introduced in 2018, is designed to prevent misleading advertisements of AYUSH products.
Rule 170 aims to govern the manufacture, storage, and sale of medicines in the country.
It is made “specifically for controlling inappropriate advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines”.
The rule prohibits AYUSH drug manufacturers from advertising their products without approval and allotment of a unique identification number from the state licensing authority.
Like allopathic medicines, manufacturers of AYUSH drugs also have to seek a license from the drug controller.
As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, phase I, II, and III trials for approval of new allopathic medicines to be conducted before a drug is cleared for marketing.
However, such trials are not necessary for AYUSH drugs.