Maharashtra government halts raids on Patanjali products as Bombay HC seeks uniform policy

MUMBAI: The regulatory heat on Ayurvedic labelling has been put on pause, at least for now. The Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that it will not carry out raids, seizures or confiscation drives against Ayurvedic products linked to Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy until further orders, offering temporary relief in an ongoing dispute over allegedly misleading product labels.

The assurance came during a hearing before a division bench comprising acting chief justice Ravindra V Ghuge and justice Gautam A Ankhad, which is examining petitions filed by the two companies challenging enforcement action taken by the state Food and Drug Administration.

The case centres on allegations that certain Ayurvedic products carried labels suggesting therapeutic claims, including references to serious illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, which authorities argue may violate provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act.

The state FDA had previously initiated raids and seized products as part of its enforcement action, prompting the companies to move the court, arguing that “indication labelling” is a long-standing and industry-wide practice in Ayurveda and should not be treated as misleading when used uniformly across the sector.

Senior counsel appearing for the petitioners argued before the court that singling out specific companies creates an uneven regulatory environment, especially when similar labelling practices are prevalent among other manufacturers in the industry.

During the hearing, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, indicated that the Union government intends to adopt a uniform national approach to regulation of Ayurvedic labelling and advertising, rather than allowing fragmented state-level enforcement.

The court has directed the Centre to clarify its position within two weeks, signalling that a broader policy framework may be required before further enforcement action is resumed.

The interim relief effectively pauses immediate regulatory pressure on the companies, while leaving open the larger question of how Ayurvedic medicines can be labelled and marketed under Indian law.

As the matter moves toward a potential nationwide regulatory framework, the outcome is expected to have wider implications for the Ayurveda and traditional medicine industry, which has long operated in a grey area between therapeutic claims and product marketing.