Notification of officers at CDL Kolkata as Government Analyst under section 20(2) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Drugs Rules, 1945 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, as notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on June 22, 2021. The amendment, identified by S.O. 2450(E), adds two new members to an unspecified committee or body related to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The core purpose of this amendment is to expand the pool of technical and scientific expertise available to this committee. The key finding is that this is a minor administrative amendment focusing on personnel additions. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of a specific amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, based solely on the provided government notification. The report aims to inform stakeholders about the nature of the amendment and its likely implications. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification amends the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department of Health and Family Welfare number S.O. 2810E, dated 30th November, 2012, published in Part II, Section 3, Subsection ii of the Gazette of India, Extraordinary. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective of this amendment, based on the provided text, is to expand the membership of an existing body or committee related to the enforcement or administration of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The addition of a Technical Officer and a Junior Scientific Officer suggests an intention to bolster the committee's technical and scientific capabilities. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment likely aims to enhance the expertise and operational capacity of a committee/body established under the Drugs Rules, 1945. The inclusion of a Technical Officer and a Junior Scientific Officer suggests a need for greater technical input in the committee's deliberations and activities. This could be due to an increased workload, a desire to incorporate more specialized knowledge, or a need to replace departing members. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This amendment adds the following members to an existing body/committee, as defined in the original notification S.O. 2810E: * **What specific part of the original policy is being changed:** The amendment adds to item number iv in the original policy. * **What the *new* rule/provision *is*:** * v. Dr. Dilip Kumar Panda, Technical Officer * vi. Smt. Suparna Maitra, Junior Scientific Officer * **Explain the *difference* or the *effect* of this specific change:** The key change is the expansion of the committee's membership with the addition of two new expert roles. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The immediate target audience and stakeholders are: * Dr. Dilip Kumar Panda and Smt. Suparna Maitra, who are directly affected by their appointment. * The existing members of the committee, as their working dynamics and processes may be affected by the new additions. * The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, responsible for the implementation and oversight of the committee's activities. * Indirectly, the pharmaceutical industry and consumers, who are affected by decisions and recommendations made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:** The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the responsible agency. The specific committee/body being amended is not explicitly named in this text but is referred to through the original notification (S.O. 2810E). * **Any timelines or procedures specified *in the text*?:** The text does not specify timelines or procedures beyond the effective date of the notification (June 22, 2021). The existing rules and procedures governing the committee outlined in S.O. 2810E are presumed to remain in effect, with the added members participating accordingly. * As it is an amendment, specific timelines will be subject to the original policy's framework. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this amendment is to enhance the technical and scientific rigor of the committee's work. The addition of these members is likely intended to: * Provide more informed decision-making regarding drug regulation and related matters. * Improve the committee's ability to address complex technical issues. * Increase the overall effectiveness of the committee in fulfilling its mandate under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. **9. Conclusion:** This report analyzed an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, adding two new members to an existing committee within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This amendment indicates a strategic effort to bolster the committee's technical expertise and overall effectiveness. While the specific impact is difficult to fully assess without examining the original notification (S.O. 2810E) and the committee's mandate, the changes are likely to contribute to more informed and robust decision-making in drug regulation.

Key Entities Referenced