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Dated and sourced

Regulatory updates

Changes from Indian and destination regulators that affect how medicines are exported, documented, paid for and imported, each with its source and what it means for buyers.

10 updates

Short answer

Each update records one dated change, such as a customs notice, a payment rule or a new import procedure, with the primary source, who it affects and what buyers should do now. Drafts are labelled as drafts until they become law.

October 2026

  1. October 25, 2026Access routes

    Saudi SFDA updates its SAP guideline for unregistered medicines

    The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has published version 2.0 of its Special Access Program guideline, dated 25 October 2026. It adds a route for rare disease medicines, splits approval from the import licence request, and sets a 7 working day decision target. The medicine must be approved by one of seven reference regulators or under registration with SFDA.

    Read the update
  2. October 12, 2026Indian export rules

    CDSCO says approved r-DNA products need no separate export NOC for an export brand

    A CDSCO notice of October 2026 clarifies that an r-DNA drug already holding an Indian marketing authorisation in Form CT-23 needs no separate CDSCO export NOC when the only change is a brand name used for export. Any other change keeps the quantity-specific export NOC, which matters for buyers of Indian recombinant biologics.

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October 2026

  1. October 1, 2026Payments and pricingDocuments

    India's FEMA 2026 export rules take effect with a nine-month realisation period

    India's new Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations 2026 took effect on 1 October 2026. An RBI amendment of 22 September 2026 cut the period for Indian exporters to receive payment from 15 months to 9 months after shipment, or 12 months for rupee invoices, which shapes payment terms offered to overseas buyers.

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  2. October 1, 2026Indian export rulesDocuments

    Nhava Sheva extends post facto export NOC relaxation to 31 December 2026

    Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House has extended to 31 December 2026 the interim relaxation that lets unapproved, new or banned drugs made for export clear with a CDSCO NOC obtained after manufacture. From 1 January 2027 these exports must fully follow the CDSCO Office Order of 30 April 2024, which affects lead times for products not approved in India.

    Read the update
  3. September 28, 2026Indian export rules

    India's draft Rule 65(22) would curb prescription drug advertising by drug sellers

    A draft amendment to India's Drugs Rules, G.S.R. 861(E) of 28 September 2026, would bar retail and wholesale drug licence holders, including online pharmacies and distributors, from advertising Schedule H, H1 or X medicines without prior Central Government sanction. It is a draft open for comment, not yet law, and would shape how Indian suppliers present prescription medicines online.

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April 2026

  1. April 28, 2026Clinical trials

    New UK clinical trials regulations take effect on 28 April 2026

    The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 came into force in the UK on 28 April 2026. They speed up combined MHRA and ethics review, add a notification route for lower-risk trials and make trial registration and results publication legal duties. Sponsors and CROs sourcing comparators from India should expect shorter start-up windows.

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  2. April 12, 2026Quality and safetyShipping and cold chain

    Qatar requires two thirds of shelf life left on imported medicines

    Qatar's Ministry of Public Health issued a circular, reported on 12 April 2026, requiring imported medicines to arrive with at least two thirds of their shelf life remaining. It took immediate effect for licensed agents and importers. Products that fall short need an exemption from the Department of Pharmacy and Drug Control, which matters for short-dated specialty and orphan batches.

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December 2025

  1. December 15, 2025Access routes

    Russia extends the foreign packaging regime for registered medicines to 2027

    Russia's Federal Law 483-FZ of 15 December 2025 extends to 31 December 2027 the regime that lets registered medicines in packaging made for other markets be imported and sold when there is a shortage, or a risk of one, linked to sanctions. It helps manufacturers already registered in Russia but does not open a route for unregistered medicines.

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July 2025

  1. July 17, 2025Indian export rulesQuality and safety

    CDSCO export NOC guidance brings one-year NOCs and a 60 percent shelf-life rule

    CDSCO's revised export NOC guidance of 17 July 2025 replaces per-order NOCs for unapproved and approved new drugs made in India for export with a one-year NOC issued after a one-time registration. Unexported formulation stock can be reused only with 60 percent of shelf life left, and banned and NDPS drugs still need per-order NOCs.

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July 2025

  1. July 1, 2025Access routesQuality and safety

    Vietnam's Decree 163/2025 replaces Decree 54/2017 for drug imports

    Vietnam's Decree 163/2025/ND-CP took effect on 1 July 2025 with the amended Law on Pharmacy, replacing Decree 54/2017. It restates when a drug without a Vietnamese marketing authorisation can be licensed for import, sets 15 days for special treatment needs licences, and adds shelf-life and advance notice rules that overseas suppliers need to plan for.

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