The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare praised the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, recently approved by Parliament, as a crucial move to safeguard public health. The Bill has amended 784 provisions in 79 Central Acts under 23 Ministries. Notably, the amendments cover significant health legislations like the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Pharmacy Act, 1948, among others.
These reforms aim to simplify compliance within the health sector while upholding strong safeguards for public health. A key aspect of the changes is the replacement of criminal penalties, especially imprisonment for minor procedural breaches, with graded monetary fines. This shift signifies a more supportive regulatory framework while ensuring severe actions for serious violations impacting public health and safety.
The amendments under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, include substituting imprisonment with financial penalties and introducing a structured adjudication process. This change ensures that minor violations can be addressed through civil penalties without court involvement. Additionally, the legislation introduces adjudicating authorities appointed by the Central and State Governments.
The reforms are set to lessen the burden on courts, reduce litigation layers, and expedite the resolution of minor compliance issues. Industries like cosmetics will benefit from a more structured approach to handling minor infringements, freeing them from prolonged legal battles. Amendments to other Acts like the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, also focus on modernizing penalty provisions and strengthening enforcement for better compliance.
