Mumbai
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has clarified on implementation of prices fixed and notified under provisions of DPCO, 2013 and also on recalling or re-labelling or re-stickering on the label of container or pack of released stocks in the market prior to date of notifications. The NPPA’s clarification comes in the backdrop of the fact that it has in the recent past received some queries from drug manufacturers, industry associations, drugs distributors and dealer associations, etc. in respect of captioned matter. There is also some misinformation as regards recalling or re-labelling or re-stickering on the label of container or pack of released stocks in the market prior to date of notifications. In a notification, the NPPA has stated that the provisions of paragraph 24 of the DPCO, 2013 cast an obligation on the manufacturers to ensure compliance with the prices fixed or revised by the NPPA, from date of price notification by issuing a revised price list or supplementary price list, if required, in Form V to dealers, the retailers, State Drug Controllers and the government. It has suggested that such price lists may be issued by e-mail, WhatsApp, etc. also apart from usual practices, so as to reach large number of dealers and retailers, quickly. The manufacturers are also advised to follow electronic submission of such price list in Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS) of the NPPA as proof thereof. The manufacturers and retailers are responsible to comply with notified prices from date of notification in sale of all available stock including pre-manufactured batches of concerned formulation for which ceiling price or retail price has been fixed or revised by the NPPA. As per paragraph 26 of the DPCO, 2013, no person shall sell any formulation to any consumer at a price exceeding the price specified in current price list or price indicated on label of the container or pack thereof, whichever is less. In this context, the Supreme Court in GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals limited versus Union of India and others, case reported in 2014 SCC vol. II 753 has held that the current price list is simply the price reflecting the currently operating notified price under the DPCO and once a price is notified for a formulation, it takes effect immediately and sale of the formulation to the consumer has only to be at the price specified in the current price list or price indicated on the label of the container or pack thereof, whichever is less”.
In the notification, the NPPA further stated that recalling or re-labelling or re-stickering on the label of container or pack of released stocks in the market prior to date of notifications, is not mandatory, if manufacturers are submitting revised price list, and are able to ensure price compliance at the retailer level. However, the manufacturers, if they so desire in order to comply with notified prices, may re-label or re-sticker or recall the stocks, as the case may be. Putting the stickers of revised prices is being practiced by many manufacturers which is the preferred option by retailers as intimated to NPPA by their associations. The printing of prices on the label of packs was earlier governed by Standard of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and Rules made thereunder. However, now the said printing of prices is governed by Legal Metrology Act, 2009. Under Rule 26( c) of Legal Metrology (packaged commodity) Rules, 2011 , formulations under the DPCO are exempted. However, the manufacturers, if recalling the stock, may ensure that recall is done in a phased manner so that it does not cause acute shortage of medicines in the market. For the purpose of excise exemption for re-printing, re-labelling, re-packing or re-stickering of scheduled formulations under DPCO, 2013 the Department of Revenue vide notification no. 22/2013-Cent
