Government operationalises Jan Vishwas Act reforms in health sector

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The Government of India has operationalised key reforms under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 relating to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with the objective of enhancing trust-based governance, reducing compliance burden for businesses, and ensuring proportionate regulatory enforcement without compromising public health safeguards.

The amendments seek to decriminalise certain minor and technical violations and replace criminal proceedings with administrative penalties, thereby promoting ease of doing business and improving regulatory efficiency. At the same time, stringent provisions against offences that pose risks to public health and consumer safety continue to remain in force.

As part of the reforms, Section 29 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which prescribed a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh for the use of a Government Analyst's report for advertising any drug or cosmetic, has been omitted.

Further, violations relating to the manufacture or sale of low-risk cosmetics have been brought under an administrative penalty framework. These include cases where a cosmetic product fails to comply with minor quality parameters or contains labelling deficiencies and errors. However, offences involving spurious or adulterated cosmetics, which have a direct bearing on consumer safety, continue to attract strict penal provisions under the Act.

The amendments have also converted violations under Section 28A, which primarily relate to procedural and compliance requirements such as maintenance of records and submission of information, into administrative penalties.

To facilitate effective implementation of the new framework, provisions relating to the appointment of Adjudicating Authorities and an Appeal Mechanism have been introduced, enabling timely and transparent disposal of cases involving such contraventions.