The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has made amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, allowing the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) at the Chaudhary Charan Singh-National Institute of Animal Health (CCS-NIAH) in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, to test 42 veterinary vaccines, a significant increase from the previous two. This move aims to bolster the veterinary biological testing infrastructure in the country.
Previously, CCS-NIAH was designated for testing only two veterinary vaccines. However, with the recent notification, the institute’s testing scope has been broadened to include 42 veterinary vaccines. These vaccines are crucial for preventing and controlling diseases like Canine Distemper, Canine Coronavirus, Duck Plague, Fowl Pox, Salmonella, and Tetanus among dogs, horses, poultry, and other livestock.
The amendments were officially notified through Gazette Notification G.S.R. 65(E), dated January 28, 2026, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, sub-section (i) under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. This step aligns with the government’s continuous endeavors to enhance vaccine and biological testing capacity in the nation and fortify the regulatory framework to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of veterinary vaccines.
The increased testing capacity at CCS-NIAH is anticipated to simplify the import and regulatory clearance processes for veterinary biologicals, while also significantly reinforcing the national quality assurance system for veterinary vaccines. This expanded mandate is poised to reduce testing timelines and enhance turnaround time for manufacturers. India stands as one of the prominent producers of veterinary vaccines globally. The expansion of testing facilities at CCS-NIAH is set to bolster the veterinary vaccine sector’s growth, ensure the timely availability of quality-assured vaccines, and safeguard animal health and livestock productivity nationwide.
