Key facts
- Maharashtra government will not conduct raids on Patanjali Ayurved products over 'indication' labels.
- The state's Food and Drug Administration had previously seized products alleging misleading labels.
- Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy claim indication labelling is a standard practice in Ayurveda.
- The Bombay High Court is hearing the petition challenging the state's actions.
- The Union government plans to establish a uniform labelling policy nationwide.
The Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that it will refrain from conducting raids and confiscation drives against Patanjali Ayurved's products concerning 'indication' labels until further court orders. This assurance was given in response to a writ petition filed by Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy, which challenged the state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actions.
Patanjali and Divya Pharmacy argued that the use of indication labels for ailments and therapeutic claims is a long-standing and widespread practice within the Ayurvedic medicine sector. They contended that such labelling should not be considered misleading or a company-specific violation, especially when it is common across the industry. The petitioners highlighted that singling them out unfairly impacts their marketability.