Centre simplifies procedure for import of drugs for examination, test or analysis under Drugs Rules, 1945
New Delhi, June 26
In a significant step towards promoting research and innovation and enhancing ease of doing business in the pharmaceutical sector, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to simplify the procedure for obtaining permission for import of drugs for examination, test or analysis. This is commonly known as Form 11.
According to the Ministry, the amendment introduces an acknowledgement-based system for the import of all drugs in small quantities for analytical and non-clinical testing purposes. Under the revised provisions, applicants intending to import such drugs will be required to submit a prior intimation form and may import the drug based on the acknowledgement generated upon submission of such intimation.
The simplified procedure shall be applicable for import of drugs for analytical and non-clinical testing, except for certain drugs belonging to the categories of sex hormones, cytotoxic drugs, beta lactam drugs, biologics containing live microorganisms, and narcotic and psychotropic substances, which shall continue to require prior licensing, it said.
It may be recalled that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had already carried out amendments to the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, in January 2026, introducing a similar notification system for domestic test licences. The present proposed amendment expands it to imports also.
The amendment is expected to significantly reduce the compliance burden on applicants by eliminating licensing requirements for importing small quantities of drugs for testing or R&D purposes. This will play a substantial role in deregulating the R&D sector in pharmaceuticals and enable start-ups and industries to quickly initiate testing or analysis. The online intimation system will offer a seamless and instant gateway for the stakeholders.
As per the Ministry, the initiative is expected to provide a major boost to research and innovation in the country while facilitating more efficient and streamlined regulatory process. It also aligns with the Government's continued efforts to improve the regulatory ecosystem, promote ease of doing business and foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
The draft notification has been placed in the public domain for stakeholder consultation.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great move by the Health Ministry. I work for a multinational pharma company and we've been advocating for such reforms. The exemption for sensitive categories like cytotoxic drugs and biologics makes sense - safety first. This will definitely accelerate drug development in India. Kudos to the government for listening to industry feedback!
I'm cautiously optimistic. While this simplifies things for testing, we must ensure there's no misuse. The exemption list is comprehensive but what about trace amounts of controlled substances in analytical samples? Also, will there be monitoring of these imports? Better oversight mechanisms should accompany such deregulation, otherwise we might see some creative accounting. 🤔
Excellent initiative! As someone who runs a CRO (Contract Research Organization), I can tell you this will be a game-changer. Earlier, importing even 5 grams of a reference standard required endless paperwork. Now with just an online intimation, we can start testing immediately. This is what "Ease of Doing Business" should really mean - practical reforms that make a difference on the ground. Well done, Ministry! 👏👏
Good to see India streamlining its pharma regulatory framework. From a global perspective, this aligns with what many developed countries already do. However, I hope the online system is robust and user-friendly. India's digital infrastructure has improved dramatically, but glitches in customs clearance can still cause delays. Let's see how this plays out in practice.
While this is a good step, I worry about the small players. The article says "small quantities" but what's the
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