New Delhi, Aug. 5 -- India's apex drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has moved the approval process for importing drugs entirely online, aiming to improve transparency, accountability, and the ease of doing business.

This reform applies to drugs imported in bulk for non-medicinal purposes- also known as 'dual-use' drugs- commonly used in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, and animal feed, according to the two officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

Also read: India unveils first formal rules for drug approval panels in regulatory overhaul

The new dual use system, launched on the SUGAM Portal, introduces a one-year No Objection Certificate (NOC) for approved importers. This move reduces the ad...