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CDSCO delegates powers to issue test license and NOC for veterinary drugs to Zonal Offices
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
March 17 , 2026
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The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has delegated powers to issue test licenses for import of veterinary drugs other than biologicals, and to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) related to this, to the zonal offices, in order to enhance ease of doing business.
The move is following the CDSCO's previous decisions to delegate powers related to these matters to the zonal offices, in the years 2014 and 2015.
In a latest notice, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General (India), said that certain powers he has been exercising, are now being delegated to the zonal offices.
According to this, the powers related to approval of test license in Form 11, for import of veterinary drugs other than biologicals, for examination, test or analysis shall be processed and disposed of by the concerned zonal offices.
Besides, the NOCs permission to obtain test license in Form 29 to manufacture veterinary drugs other than biological applications, for examination, test, or analysis under Rule 89 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 shall be processed and disposed of by the concerned zonal offices, ordered by the central drug regulator.
There are nine zonal offices of CDSCO operating in the country - the North Zone at Ghaziabad, South Zone at Chennai, two West Zone offices in Mumbai, East Zone office in Kolkata, Hyderabad Zone, Ahmedabad Zone, Bengaluru Zone, and Baddi Zone. These Zonal offices are headed by the Deputy Drugs Controllers (India), and operate with Assistant Drugs Controllers (India), Drugs Inspectors, and others.
It may be noted that the DCGI has in February 13, 2014, transferred powers to the Deputy Drugs Controllers of five of its zonal offices to issue NOCs for grant of license to manufacture drugs for the purpose of examination, test or analysis, NOCs for grant of permissions for manufacture for export only unapproved or approved new drugs and drugs banned under Section 26-A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and NOCs for grant of permissions for import of dual use items which are not for medicinal use.
On September 30, 2014, it has further transferred certain powers to the heads of six of its Zonal Offices, including to sign test licences in Form 11 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, for import of small quantities of drugs for examination, test or analysis originating under their area of operation, while the powers to issue the receipt of the applications and grant of test licence for grant of test license for import of drugs for the purpose of clinical trials were retained with the CDSCO.
However, on January 6, 2015, the central drug regulator clarified that the test licenses for import of new drugs including biological products and medical devices for the purpose of clinical trials are only to be granted by the CDSCO, New Delhi.
The applications for grant of test licenses other than clinical trials received by zonal offices of CDSCO shall be processed and disposed off by the concerned zonal offices as per the order related to delegation of powers, added the then DCGI Dr G N Singh.
The functions and duties of the zonal offices of the CDSCO include participation of the officials in the joint inspection for issuance or revalidation of Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (CoPPs), as per the World Health Organisation certificate scheme after receiving the application from the manufacturing firm, participation in joint inspection for grant or renewal of blood bank license, vaccines and sera manufacturing units for both human, as well as veterinary, and to conduct inspection for grant of license for Class C and D notified medical devices and in vitro diagnostics, among others.
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