Though nutraceuticals are consumed widely, there is limited evidence of their health benefits in well-nourished adults. The government is planning tighter regulations on their quality, pricing and marketing aspects
India’s drugs standards watchdog has asked companies importing cosmetics to provide details such as the number of consignments, the bills of entry, quantity and cost as it looks to weed out substandard products.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been conducting risk-based inspections of drug manufacturing units as part of a nationwide crackdown on spurious and substandard drugs. Several units in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab have been inspected, with show-cause notices issued and production stopped at some.
Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources that are believed to provide extra health benefits besides the basic nutritional value found in foods.
As the country’s apex health regulatory body intensifies its scrutiny of drug manufacturing practices throughout India, it has rolled out fresh guidelines for sampling drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices.