The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) on February 11, 2026, issued a notification regarding the coordinated regulatory framework for veterinary medicines.
The import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs are regulated under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules framed thereunder to ensure safety and quality standards. In addition, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, has undertaken several measures to strengthen regulation and promote responsible use of veterinary drugs.
DAHD has constituted the Empowered Committee on Animal Health–Regulatory (ECAH) to assess and provide technical recommendations to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regarding the import and manufacture of veterinary drugs and vaccines. Further, the National Action Plan on Anti-Microbial Resistance (NAP-AMR) focuses on optimal use of antimicrobials, awareness generation, training, surveillance and monitoring.
To promote best practices in veterinary care, Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTGs) for livestock and poultry have been developed to ensure responsible use of drugs, including antimicrobials. Under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for training, awareness on good animal husbandry practices, biosecurity measures, vaccination, disease surveillance and capacity building, thereby supporting reduced antibiotic usage.
Additionally, the Bharat Pashudhan application under the National Digital Livestock Mission facilitates management of common dairy animal ailments using Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM). DAHD has also issued advisories to States/UTs for the judicious use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, discontinuation of antibiotics in animal feed, and for general awareness on responsible antibiotic usage.
[Release ID: 2226364]
