The Ayurvedic Drugs Manufacturers Association (ADMA) has sought immediate intervention of Union health ministry in resolving the issues arising out of the Maharashtra state chemists and druggists association's (MSCDA) decision to return the stocks of Indian system of medicines (ISM) for failure to comply with the Packaging Commodities Rules, 1977.
The ADMA has asked the Ayush department for a proper coordination with the Union ministry of consumer affairs to speed up the proposal of exemption of ASU industry from the provisions of standards of Weights & Measures (Packaging Commodities) Rules 1977 on the lines of exemption enjoyed by the scheduled and non-scheduled drugs, but for mentioning of MRP on medicine label.
It also sought a directive from the consumer affairs ministry to its state counterparts staying any kind of action on this issue till such time the inter-ministerial group or such authority decides the matter. The ADMA said that the ASU medicines in the market are adhering to labelling norms applicable as per rules prescribed in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 and can in no way be said to be deficient in informing or disclosing the essential details and upholding consumer interest.
Even though the ISM drug manufacturers have been on warpath for the exemption of ISM units from Weights & Measures Rules as provided to allopathic medicines, the Union consumer affairs ministry has been lending a deaf ear on the issue so far and has been in fact tightening the noose on ISM drug manufacturers.
The issue arose when the consumer affairs ministry amended the Standards of Weights & Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules 1977 some time back and included the ISM medicines on the purview of the provisions of the amendments. Labelling provision 6 (1A) of Package and Commodity Rules, 1977 mandates printing of name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, if available, of the person who can be or the office which can be, contacted, in case of consumer complaints.
Even as the industry was hoping some relief from the government on this labelling issue, the MSCDA started returning the stocks of ISM medicines from the retail outlets to the manufacturers for failure to comply the packaging Rules. The MSCDA action came in the wake of Department of Legal Metrology initiating actions against its members for stocking ISM products without proper consumer care data on the labels.