On 2 July 2026, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the Drugs (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2026, under which Navi Mumbai Airport, Maharashtra, has been included in the list of airports through which drugs may be imported into India.
The Amendment came into effect on 3 July 2026.
Key takeaways:
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The Amendment modifies the Drugs Rules, 1945.
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It replaces ‘Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram’ with ‘Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram and Navi Mumbai’ in Rule 43A, which specifies the ports through which drugs may be imported into India.
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The change has been introduced following consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
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With the inclusion of Navi Mumbai Airport, the total number of notified ports of entry for drug imports, including road, rail, sea and air routes, has increased to 42.1
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The amendment is expected to facilitate smoother movement of pharmaceutical consignments, strengthen logistics infrastructure, and provide importers with an additional entry point for imported medicines.
Read more: Draft Drugs (Amendment) Rules, 2026: Aligning Blood Product Testing with International Standards
[Drugs (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2026, dt. 3-7-2026]
1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2282329®=3&lang=1
