India Orders New Standards for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

A notification from the Indian government reported on Saturday that drug companies in the country must establish new manufacturing standards this year. However, smaller companies have requested a postponement due to debt burdens. The notification, dated December 28, states, "The manufacturer must take responsibility for the quality of the products to ensure they are fit for their intended use, comply with licensing requirements, and do not endanger patients." The notification further added that "companies must market the final product after achieving 'satisfactory results' in testing the components." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified inspections of pharmaceutical factories to safeguard the sector's reputation and its $50 billion value, following a wave of deaths outside India linked to drugs manufactured in India since 2022.