New Delhi, Dec. 28 -- With thousands of small drug manufacturers struggling to meet tougher quality norms, the government is weighing a year's extension to the deadline for complying with the revised good manufacturing practices (GMPs), said two government officials aware of the development. The deliberations come ahead of the 1 January 2026 rollout of revised Schedule M standards that are aligned with World Health Organization norms.

The Union health and family welfare ministry will hold consultations with state governments on the issue starting Monday, one of the officials said.

Low compliance by the country's 8,500 small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) manufacturing pharmaceuticals would raise the risk of plant closures and disruption...