Centre implements Jan Vishwas Act reforms in health sector

New Delhi (Raghwendra Pratap Singh) :

The Centre has implemented the Jan Vishwas Act reforms in the health sector, rationalising minor offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the reforms are aimed at promoting ease of doing business while maintaining stringent safeguards for public health and consumer safety.

The Ministry said that, as part of the reforms, Section 29 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act has been omitted. The provision prescribed a penalty of up to one lakh rupees for the use of a Government Analyst’s report for advertising any drug or cosmetic.

The Ministry said violations relating to the manufacture or sale of low-risk cosmetics have been brought under an administrative penalty framework. However, offences involving spurious or adulterated cosmetics, which have a direct bearing on consumer safety, will continue to attract strict penal provisions under the Act.

The provision relating to obstructing or resisting a Food Safety Officer has also been omitted from the Food Safety and Standards Act, as such offences are already covered under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.