Parliament Question: Coordinated Regulatory Framework for veterinary medicines

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1322 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026 COORDINATED REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR VETERINARY MEDICINES 1322 DR. AJEET MADHAVRAO GOPCHADE: Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state: (a) whether the Ministry, in consultation with the Ministry of Health, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, State Governments and other relevant stakeholders, has taken any step to establish a comprehensive and coordinated regulatory mechanism for veterinary medicines, in view of the following parts (b) to (d); (b) the involvement of multiple agencies in approval, manufacture and monitoring, leading to regulatory overlap and gaps; (c) the absence of effective inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination; (d) concerns regarding quality control, availability, pricing, misuse and antimicrobial resistance; and (e) whether Government proposes to issue unified guidelines or introduce legislative measures to strengthen regulation, improve coordination and safeguard animal health? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) to (e) The import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs are regulated as per the provisions under Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules there under to ensure safety and quality standards. The measures taken by Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), GOI are outlined below: i. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has constituted the Empowered Committee on Animal Health-Regulatory (ECAH), a subcommittee to ‘Assess and provide recommendations on submission of veterinary vaccines/biological/drugs for technical input’ to Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regarding import and manufacturing of drugs and vaccine. ii. National Action Plan on Anti-Microbial Resistance (NAP-AMR) is in place focusing on optimal use of antimicrobials, awareness and training, surveillance and monitoring etc. iii. The ‘Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTGs) has been developed for Livestock and Poultry’ for best practices in veterinary care to enhance livestock health and disease control while ensuring the responsible use of drugs including antimicrobials. iv. Under Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) scheme the financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for training and awareness on Good Animal Husbandry Practices, Biosecurity/Sanitary measures, vaccination against animal diseases, disease surveillance and monitoring and capacity building which supports less usage of antibiotics. v. Bharat Pashudhan application under National Digital Livestock Mission provides management of common ailments of dairy animals e.g. mastitis, indigestion, diarrhoea etc. using Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM). vi. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has issued advisories to all State/UTs for judicious use of antibiotics in treatment of food producing animals, for stopping use of antibiotics in animal feed and for general awareness. *****