JNTU Pharm. D III Year PHARMACEUTICAL JURISPRUDENCE Previous Question Paper (April/May - 2019 - R08)

The Drugs Enquiry Committee, also known as the Chopra Committee, was appointed by the Government of India in 1930 under the chairmanship of Col. R.N. Chopra. Its primary objective was to investigate the state of the drug industry and the profession of pharmacy in India.

Key aspects of the committee include:

• It conducted a comprehensive survey of the pharmaceutical industry, noting the prevalence of low-quality, spurious, and misbranded drugs in the market.
• The committee highlighted the lack of uniform legislation to regulate the import, manufacture, and sale of drugs.
• It recommended the establishment of a central laboratory for drug testing and the implementation of a system for the registration of pharmacists.
• The report submitted in 1931 served as the foundational document for the drafting of the Drugs Act, 1940, which laid the groundwork for modern pharmaceutical regulation in India.

The history of pharmaceutical legislation in India is rooted in the need to protect public health from the unregulated trade of medicinal substances. Prior to the 20th century, there was no centralized control over the quality of drugs, leading to widespread adulteration.

The evolution of this legal framework occurred in several phases:

• Pre-Independence Era: Following the recommendations of the Drugs Enquiry Committee (1930), the government enacted the Drugs Act, 1940. This was the first major step toward regulating the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs.
• Post-Independence Development: The Pharmacy Act, 1948 was introduced to regulate the profession of pharmacy, ensuring that only qualified individuals could dispense medicines. This was followed by the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, to curb misleading claims about drug efficacy.
• Expansion of Controls: The Medicinal and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties) Act, 1955 was enacted to regulate alcohol-containing preparations. Subsequently, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 underwent significant amendments, most notably the inclusion of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, which provided detailed technical standards for manufacturing and quality control.
• Modern Era: Legislation continued to evolve with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and the Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO), ensuring that the pharmaceutical sector remains regulated in terms of safety, efficacy, professional standards, and affordability.