Cabinet stiffens drug law

Amendments to Patents Act approved

The Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which provide for stringent punishment, including death penalty, for those involved manufacturing and selling fake drugs.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), in its meeting today, also approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Patents Act, 1970 to enable the country meet its international obligations for introducing product patents for drugs, food and chemicals by January 1, 2005.

This Bill will be introduced in current session of Parliament. It would be referred to a standing committeee after its introduction in Parliament, Parliamentary Afairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said here today.

The Bill is aimed at making India fulfill its international obligations under the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regime of the World Trade Organisation, she said, adding that the legislation would have to be in place by January 1, 2005.

The CCEA also approved the rehabilitation and upgradation of 6,195 km of existing 2-lane roads to four/six lanes under the North-South East-West corridor project at a cost of Rs 31,831 crore.

The corridor project forms the second phase of the ongoing National Highways Development Project (NHDP).

Under the amendments proposed to be moved for the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the offences that were earlier bailable and non-cognisable would now be made non-bailable and cognisable, Swaraj said after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The amendment has been brought following the recommendations of the Mashelkar committee. The Bill will be introduced in the current session of Parliament and will be referred to the concerned Parliamentary Standing Committee.

The Amendment would also include the establishment of special courts for the speedy disposal of cases and provide for compounding of certain offences. It would help in preventing the manufacture and trade of spurious drugs, Swaraj added.

The CCEA also approved a Rs 1,019.26 crore proposal for the implementation of an integrated scheme for oilseeds, pulses, oil-palm and maize during the Tenth Plan period.

It also accepted the recommendations on revising the minimum support price policy for various Rabi crops of 2003-04 season, which would be marketed in 2004-05, an official spokesperson told reporters.

The Rs 1,019.26 crore integrated scheme for oilseeds, pulses, oil palm and maize would include a contribution of Rs 835 crore from the Centre.

This would be made as per the existing funding pattern of the Ninth Plan between the Centre and state governments ie on a 75:25 basis.

The Cabinet also approved a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 for all Members of Parliament, including former members of both the Houses, irrespective of their tenure.

The Cabinet also decided to introduce a Bill to amend the Antiquities and Treasures Act, 1972, to make every offence under it cognisable and the bail provisions more stricter.