The newly notified Schedule M proposes a blanket ban on manufacturing of any other article or product apart from drugs in the same facility.
“Till the next date of hearing, the respondents shall not take any precipitative action against the petitioner in so far as it relates to manufacturing of nutraceuticals within the drug manufacturing premises,” the court said.
Federation of Pharma Enterprises (FoPE), which represents medium and small-scale drug companies, along with Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and others had approached the court challenging the Schedule M, arguing that setting up new plant exclusively for cosmetic manufacturing is financially not viable.
They pleaded that drug facilities be permitted to manufacture nutraceuticals in the area dedicated for making topical products such as external preparations such as creams and lotions.
“The petitioner’s apprehension that pending consideration to examine the matter of manufacturing of nutraceuticals within the drug manufacturing facility, the respondents are likely to take precipitative action,” the court said.In an earlier diktat, the government said action will be taken against pharma units that are flouting the norms by manufacturing nutraceuticals, health supplements and drugs in the same facility.
