The government's August 2026 restriction on fixed dose combinations of Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride for children below four years was issued under which provision?

Question

Accepted Answer

A. Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's notification restricting fixed dose combinations of Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride for children below four years, issued on 22 August 2026, was notified under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which empowers the central government to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of a drug in the public interest. The notification extends an earlier restriction dated 15 April 2025 covering select formulations to all such combinations, following recommendations of an Expert Committee and the Drugs Technical Advisory Board. Manufacturers must now display the warning on labels, package inserts and promotional material for all formulations containing these two ingredients.

Answer

A. Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

Answer

B. Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955

Answer

C. Section 33EED of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

Answer

D. Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019