The Government of Karnataka on December 11, 2025, issued the Drugs and Cosmetics (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The following has been stated namely: -
• Section 19 A which state “Burden of Proof” has been inserted namely: -
“When any drug or cosmetic is seized from any person in the reasonable belief that such drug or cosmetic is misbranded or adulterated, the burden of proving that such drug or cosmetic is not misbranded or adulterated shall be on the person from whose possession such drug or cosmetic was seized."
• Section 32 which states “Cognizance of offences and arrest without warrant” has been substituted namely: -
“(1) all offences punishable under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.
(2) Any police officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector of Police may assist the drug inspector by whom a reasonable complaint has been made or Creditable information has been given of his having been contravened in any of the offences punishable under this Act."
• Section 39 which states “Rules to be laid before State Legislature” has been inserted namely: -
“Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions afore said, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, and notify such decision in the Official Gazette, the rule shall from the date of publication of such notification have effect only notification have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule."
[LA Bill No. 71 of 2025]
