India: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), vide a press release dated 02 August 2026 , has clarified its position on the enforcement action initiated against certain alcoholic beverage manufacturers. According to FSSAI, the manufacturers concerned were producing rum and whisky predominantly from neutral alcohol, which has no characteristic flavour of its own, and were adding rum or whisky flavour externally to replicate the taste and aroma which ought to arise naturally from the manufacturing process.

In a significant ruling between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India v. G. Subramania Koushik & Ors. addressing consumer awareness and food safety, the Madras High Court has upheld its earlier directions requiring precautionary labelling on plastic/PET-bottled drinking water and sugar and salt sold in plastic packaging, indicating the possible presence of microplastics and nanoplastics. The decision highlights the importance of consumer disclosure, particularly where scientific research has identified potential health concerns but the precise extent of the associated risks remains under investigation.

India's pharmaceutical and healthcare regulatory landscape in August 2026 witnessed significant reforms spanning medical devices, drug safety, clinical trials, and professional registration. From stricter controls on pediatric medications to streamlined ethics review processes, these developments reshape compliance obligations and market access pathways for life sciences stakeholders.

India's pharmaceutical and healthcare regulatory landscape in August 2026 witnessed significant reforms spanning medical devices, drug safety, clinical trials, and professional registration. From stricter controls on pediatric medications to streamlined ethics review processes, these developments reshape compliance obligations and market access pathways for life sciences stakeholders.

India's Patent Office has released draft biotechnology examination guidelines that fundamentally reshape how U.S. patent practitioners should approach Indian filings. With strict limits on claim amendments and new standards for diagnostics, efficacy data, and enablement, the window to optimize claims closes at PCT national-phase entry—making pre-filing strategy more critical than ever.

India has redrawn how it examines biotech patents for the first time since 2013. If you own a portfolio in pharma, biologics, biosimilars or diagnostics, the draft changes what will get granted in India — and what won’t.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), vide a press release dated 02 August 2026 , has clarified its position on the enforcement action initiated against certain alcoholic beverage manufacturers. According to FSSAI, the manufacturers concerned were producing rum and whisky predominantly from neutral alcohol, which has no characteristic flavour of its own, and were adding rum or whisky flavour externally to replicate the taste and aroma which ought to arise naturally from the manufacturing process.

In a significant ruling between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India v. G. Subramania Koushik & Ors. addressing consumer awareness and food safety, the Madras High Court has upheld its earlier directions requiring precautionary labelling on plastic/PET-bottled drinking water and sugar and salt sold in plastic packaging, indicating the possible presence of microplastics and nanoplastics. The decision highlights the importance of consumer disclosure, particularly where scientific research has identified potential health concerns but the precise extent of the associated risks remains under investigation.

India's pharmaceutical and healthcare regulatory landscape in August 2026 witnessed significant reforms spanning medical devices, drug safety, clinical trials, and professional registration. From stricter controls on pediatric medications to streamlined ethics review processes, these developments reshape compliance obligations and market access pathways for life sciences stakeholders.