The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has rejected the review application filed by the Mumbai-based Pregna International against fixation of ceiling prices of 'Harmone Releasing IUD' on the plea that the company failed to submit the application within the time limit of 30 days prescribed in paragraph 31 of the DPCO.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) vide its notification S.O. No.3128(E) dated 10.12.2014 issued under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, had fixed the ceiling price of Harmone Releasing IUD.

Aggrieved by the NPPA notification, Pregna International filed a review application against fixation of ceiling prices of Harmone Releasing IUD under paragraph 31 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

The petitioner filed the review petition on 15.7.2015, that is, seven months after the notification of the NPPA was passed and has submitted that it was waiting for revision of the said notification, pursuant to the representations made by the industry. As no revision order was passed, it has now filed the review petition under paragraph 31 of the DPCO.

As per the norms, any review petition under paragraph 31 of the DPCO has to be submitted within 30 days of the publication of the notification in the gazette or the receipt of the order. “As the petition has not been submitted within the time limit prescribed in paragraph 31 of the DPCO, the same is rejected”, the reviewing authority, DoP, in its order said.