Drug Batch Release Only by Qualified Pharmacist, Drug Rules to be Amended

Ø Amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 seek to strengthen accountability and documentation in batch release

· Proposed amendments: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, making it mandatory for drug manufacturers to formally authorise a suitably qualified and experienced person for the release of each drug batch.

· Mandatory designation: Manufacturers applying for drug manufacturing licences under the relevant provisions will be required to designate an authorised person responsible for batch release.

· Batch release records: Manufacturers will have to maintain prescribed records for every batch manufactured to ensure proper documentation and traceability of batch-release decisions.

· Batch Release Certificate: The amendments propose introducing a prescribed format for the Batch Release Certificate under the Drugs Rules, 1945.

· Accountability and quality control: The authorised person will be responsible for reviewing relevant quality parameters and documentation before a drug batch is approved for distribution.

· Regulatory objective: The proposed changes aim to strengthen accountability in pharmaceutical manufacturing, improve compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and reinforce drug quality assurance.

· Public consultation: The Ministry has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders, which may be submitted to the Under Secretary (Drugs Regulation), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at Kartavya Bhawan-1, New Delhi, or by email at drugsdiv-mohfw@gov.in.

[ABS News Service/04.11.2026]

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to mandate drug manufacturers to formally authorise a person with appropriate qualifications and experience for batch release of drugs and maintain prescribed records for every batch manufactured.

The proposed amendments aim to strengthen accountability in the drug manufacturing process by introducing an explicit regulatory requirement for the authorisation of personnel responsible for batch release. While manufacturing licences currently require manufacturers to furnish details of competent technical staff responsible for manufacturing and testing, there is no specific provision for mentioning the person authorised to undertake batch release.

Under the proposed framework, applicants seeking manufacturing licences under the relevant provisions of the Drugs Rules, 1945, would be required to designate a suitably qualified and experienced person for batch release and maintain batch-release records in accordance with the prescribed requirements. The amendments also propose to introduce a prescribed format for the Batch Release Certificate under the Rules.

Batch release is a critical stage in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process, involving an overall review of the relevant quality parameters and documentation before a batch is released for distribution. The proposed requirements are intended to establish clear responsibility for this function, ensure traceability of batch-release decisions and provide an additional level of oversight of product quality.

The proposed amendments are also expected to support manufacturers in strengthening their compliance with applicable Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and reinforce the regulatory framework governing the quality assurance of drugs.

Objections and suggestions, if any, on the proposed amendments may be submitted to the Under Secretary (Drugs Regulation), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, U-6, Work Hall, C Wing, First Floor, Kartavya Bhawan-1, New Delhi – 110001, or sent by email to drugsdiv-mohfw[at]gov[dot]in.