New Delhi, June 27: The central government has introduced significant reforms under the ‘Jan Vishwas Act, 2026,’ amending the ‘Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940’ and the ‘Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.’ The aim of these reforms is to promote trust-based governance, reduce the compliance burden on businesses, and ensure proper implementation of regulations without compromising public health safety, as stated by the Health Ministry on Friday.
These amendments seek to decriminalize minor and technical violations, replacing criminal proceedings with administrative penalties. This approach is designed to enhance the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and improve regulatory operations. However, strict provisions against offenses that pose a threat to public health and consumer safety will remain in effect.
One notable change involves the removal of Section 29 from the ‘Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940,’ which previously imposed fines of up to ₹100,000 for using government analyst reports in advertising drugs or cosmetics.
Additionally, violations related to the manufacture or sale of low-risk cosmetics will now fall under the administrative penalty system. This includes cases where cosmetic products fail to meet minor quality standards or have labeling deficiencies. However, strict penalties will still apply to offenses involving counterfeit or adulterated cosmetics that directly impact consumer safety.
The amendments have transformed violations under Section 28A, primarily related to procedural and compliance requirements such as record-keeping and information submission, into administrative penalties.
To effectively implement the new framework, provisions for appointing adjudicating authorities and establishing an appeals process have been introduced. This will ensure timely and transparent resolution of cases related to these violations.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, provisions for imposing fines by courts against false complaints against food safety officers have now been transitioned to an administrative penalty system.
The punishment for tampering with seized items has been rationalized, reducing the prison term from six months to three months.
Furthermore, provisions related to obstructing or opposing the work of food safety officers have been removed from the Food Safety and Standards Act, as these offenses are already adequately covered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), thus avoiding redundancy in the legal framework.
The reforms through the Jan Vishwas Act demonstrate the government’s commitment to establishing a modern, transparent, and trust-based regulatory system. The statement emphasized that by distinguishing between technical or procedural deficiencies and serious public health offenses, these amendments aim to implement regulations appropriately while maintaining the integrity of India’s food and drug regulatory framework.
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