Centre Adds Navi Mumbai International Airport to Approved Drug Import Locations
New Delhi: In a move aimed at expanding India's pharmaceutical import infrastructure, the Central Government has cleared Navi Mumbai International Airport for the import of drugs by notifying the Drugs (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2026.
The amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945 adds Navi Mumbai to the list of locations specified under Rule 43A, alongside Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram, with the new rules coming into force from July 2, 2026, the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
The notification states that the draft amendment was initially published on January 28, 2026, through G.S.R. 66(E), inviting objections and suggestions from stakeholders for a period of thirty days, as required under Sections 12 and 33 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Copies of the draft notification were made available to the public on the same day.
According to the Ministry, no objections or suggestions were received during the consultation period. Consequently, after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the Central Government has finalized and notified the amendment.
The notification reads:
"In the Drugs Rules, 1945, in rule 43A, for the words 'Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram', the words 'Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram and Navi Mumbai' shall be substituted."
Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945 specifies designated ports and locations associated with the import of drugs under the regulatory framework of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. With this amendment, Navi Mumbai joins Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram as a notified location under the rule.
The Ministry stated that the Drugs (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2026 shall come into force immediately from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, i.e., July 2, 2026.
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