NEW DELHI, Dec. 5 -- India's drug regulator, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), plans to tighten rules on the sale and distribution of emergency contraceptive pills, including levonorgestrel formulations, sold under brand names such as Unwanted-72 and i-pill, and ulipristal pills sold as ella.

The move, aimed at preventing habitual overuse and ensuring women have access to critical safety information, will require these pills to carry QR codes on their packaging, according to two officials and a document reviewed by Mint.

The QR codes will link to detailed product information, including dosage, contraindications, drug interactions, side effects, storage instructions, and patient counselling guidance. Warnings will state that ...