Pharma MSMEs may get time to adopt new manufacturing rules

With thousands of small drug manufacturers struggling to meet tougher quality norms, the government is weighing a year's extension to the deadline for complying with the revised good manufacturing practices (GMPs), said two government officials aware of the development.

- Priyanka Sharma

There are 10,500 drug-making units in India.

The deliberations come ahead of the 1 January 2026 rollout of revised Schedule M standards that are aligned with World Health Organization norms.

The Union health and family welfare ministry will hold consultations with state governments on the issue starting Monday, one of the officials said.