Health Ministry Allows Drugs Import through Navi Mumbai Airport under Rule 43A of Drugs Rules, 1945

Ø Amendment to Rule 43A to Facilitate Import of Drugs through Navi Mumbai Airport

Ø Total Number of Notified Ports of Entry for Import of Drugs Reaches 42, Strengthening Pharmaceutical Logistics and Trade Facilitation

· The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified Navi Mumbai Airport as a designated airport for the import of drugs under the Drugs Rules, 1945.

· The notification amends Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, following consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

· With this amendment, Navi Mumbai Airport is officially added to the list of airports permitted for drug imports.

· The total number of notified ports of entry (road, rail, sea, and air) for the import of drugs has increased to 42.

· The move is expected to:

o Improve the pharmaceutical supply chain.

o Strengthen logistics infrastructure.

o Facilitate smoother movement of imported medicines.

o Provide greater flexibility and convenience to importers.

· The initiative supports the Government's objectives of:

o Enhancing Ease of Doing Business.

o Strengthening the regulatory framework for imported drugs.

o Promoting efficient trade facilitation while ensuring effective regulatory oversight.

[ABS News Service/08.07.2026]

In a significant step towards strengthening the pharmaceutical supply chain and facilitating ease of trade, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has enabled the import of drugs through the recently inaugurated Navi Mumbai Airport in Maharashtra.

The amendment to Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945 now includes Navi Mumbai in the list of airports through which drugs may be imported into the country. The notification has been issued after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

With this amendment, Navi Mumbai Airport joins the list of designated airports permitted for the import of drugs under the Drugs Rules, 1945. Total number of ports of entry(road/rail/ship/air) becomes 42 with the latest addition. The amendment is expected to facilitate smoother movement of pharmaceutical consignments, strengthen logistics infrastructure, and provide greater flexibility to importers by adding a new alternative for import of medicines into India.

The initiative is in line with the Government's continued efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework, improve trade facilitation, and promote Ease of Doing Business while ensuring effective regulatory oversight of imported drugs.

<Gazette Notification G.S.R. 561(E) dated 2 July, 2026>

G.S.R. 561(E).— Whereas a draft of certain rules further to amend the Drugs Rules, 1945 was published, as required under sub-section (1) of section 12 and sub-section (1) of section 33 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940) vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health and Family Welfare) number G.S.R. 66(E), dated the 28th January, 2026 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, sub-section (i) dated the 28th January, 2026, inviting objections and suggestions from persons likely to be affected thereby, before the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public;

And whereas, copies of the said Official Gazette were made available to the public on the 28th January, 2026;

And whereas, no objections and suggestions were received from the public in respect of the said draft rules;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 12 and 33 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), the Central Government, after consultation with Drugs Technical Advisory Board, hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Drugs Rules, 1945, namely:-

1. (1) These rules may be called the Drugs (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2026.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Drugs Rules, 1945, in rule 43A, for the words “Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram”, the words, “Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram and Navi Mumbai” shall be substituted.

[F. No. X.11035/131/2022-DR]