Key Points:
- DGCI plans major overhaul of medicine packaging and labeling rules to ensure clear, readable information for consumers.
- New norms will require expiry dates and other vital details to be printed in larger, legible fonts.
- Distinctive marks to differentiate generic and branded medicines, ending confusion at pharmacies.
- A sub-committee is reviewing the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, to incorporate these changes.
- Move aims to boost transparency, consumer confidence, and empower patients to make informed choices.
- Indian pharma market sales hit Rs 19,720 crore in May 2025, highlighting the urgent need for consumer-friendly reforms.
New Delhi: In a significant move to empower patients and bring transparency to the booming Indian pharmaceutical market, the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) is preparing to introduce sweeping changes to the packaging and labeling rules for medicines. The reforms, expected to roll out soon, are designed to make it much easier for consumers to read critical information such as expiry dates and usage instructions and to clearly distinguish between generic and branded drugs.
Why the Change? Consumer Complaints Drive Reform
The DGCI’s decision follows a surge in complaints from patients and pharmacists. Consumers have long struggled to read tiny fonts and decipher information on brightly colored or cluttered medicine labels. Many have also reported confusion at pharmacies, where expensive branded drugs are often sold in place of cheaper generics, simply because the packaging is nearly identical.
According to senior DGCI officials, these issues have led to a lack of informed choice and, in some cases, patients unknowingly paying more for medicines that have affordable alternatives.
What’s Changing? Bigger Fonts, Special Marks, and More
A specially formed sub-committee is now reviewing the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, to recommend:
- Mandatory use of larger, high-contrast fonts for expiry dates, batch numbers, and usage instructions.
- Distinctive symbols or color codes to clearly mark generic medicines, setting them apart from branded counterparts.
- Simplified layouts to reduce visual clutter and make essential information stand out.
- Stricter quality control over how information is presented on all medicine packs sold, imported, or manufactured in India.
The committee is expected to submit its report soon, after which the new rules could be implemented nationwide.
Tackling Misleading Sales and Price Disparities
Currently, many customers are misled either by asking for medicines by brand name or by being offered expensive branded drugs by default at medical stores. The lack of clear distinction between generics and branded medicines means patients often pay more, even when cheaper, equally effective options are available.
The proposed reforms will require a special mark or symbol on generic drug packaging, making it easy for both pharmacists and patients to identify the most affordable option.
Boosting Transparency and Trust in a Growing Market
Experts say these changes will usher in a new era of transparency in India’s pharmaceutical sector. With medicine sales reaching Rs 19,720 crore in May 2025 a 7.2% increase from last year the need for clear, consumer-friendly information has never been greater.
Patients will be able to:
- Easily check expiry dates and batch details.
- Quickly identify whether a medicine is generic or branded.
- Make informed decisions and avoid being overcharged.
What’s Next?
Once the sub-committee submits its recommendations, the DGCI is expected to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and notify the new standards. The move is widely supported by consumer rights groups and healthcare advocates, who believe it will protect patients and promote fair competition in the pharma market.
