India’s top drug regulatory authority had raised concerns about the misuse of pharmaceutical packaging materials even before Karnataka police uncovered a suspected counterfeit medicine operation and seized fake drug labels.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been examining whether suppliers of printed packaging materials used by pharmaceutical companies should be required to register with the authorities. The move is aimed at preventing legitimate packaging materials from being diverted and used to produce counterfeit medicines.
The issue was discussed during the 69th meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) held on June 24, 2026, at the CDSCO headquarters in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, India’s Drug Controller General.
The committee discussed concerns surrounding the availability and misuse of printed materials such as pharmaceutical labels and other packaging components. Such materials can potentially be misused to make fake products appear similar to genuine medicines.
Requiring packaging suppliers to register could give regulators better information about who is producing and supplying these materials. It could also help authorities track the movement of packaging used by pharmaceutical companies and identify suspicious activity more quickly.
The CDSCO’s discussions took place before the Karnataka police action against the suspected counterfeit medicine operation. The timing highlights the regulator’s efforts to address vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain before such materials can be used for illegal purposes.
Counterfeit medicines can create serious risks for patients because they may contain incorrect, ineffective, or potentially harmful ingredients. Stronger monitoring of pharmaceutical packaging could therefore become an important part of efforts to protect consumers and maintain the quality of medicines available in the market.
The CDSCO’s review is part of a broader effort to strengthen oversight of the pharmaceutical sector. Further decisions on the registration of packaging-material suppliers could help authorities improve traceability and reduce the possibility of genuine-looking labels being misused for counterfeit products.