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    9. Since the publication of the report of the Committee the constitu-
tional position in India has altered by the introduction of the Government
of India Act, 1935. The responsibility for the control of the manufacture,
storage and sale of drugs and medicines and for the education and
registration of pharmacists and compounders now rests primarily with
provincial Governments. Any effective steps to implement the recom-
mendations of the Committee must therefore be taken by the provinces.

    10. The Government of India in September 1937 introduced a Bill in
the Legislative Assembly to regulate the import into British India of drugs
and medicines. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill reads
as follows:—

       "The Government of India have for some time past following the
report of the Drugs Enquiry Committee been considering, in
consultation with local Governments, the question of imple-
menting the recommendations made by the Committee for
controlling the import, manufacture and sale of drugs and
medicines in India. The recommendations are based on a
vast volume of evidence, both oral and written, collected by
the Committee during its extensive tour in the country, and
they have received widespread support in India. Govern-
ment has been pressed in the Legislature, by commercial
bodies, and in the public press of India without distinction of
party to implement the recommendations of the Committee.
In addition, the question was debated in the Council of State
in September, 1935. The subject is one which is primarily
the concern of provincial Governments, and Central legisla-
tion can only deal with imports. Certain recommendations,
for instance, those relating to the manufacture, storage and
sale of drugs, education and control of pharmacists, are
essentially for provincial Governments to deal with. The
Bill excludes such matters."

    11. The Government of India established in 1937 a Drugs Control
Laboratory which in accordance with the limitation of the Government
of India Act can undertake such work as research, standardisation of
methods, and the testing of those substances for which the provincial
Governments are unable to make arrangements at their own laboratories,
e.g., organo-metallic compounds, vaccines, sera, toxins, anti-toxins and
antigens. The Laboratory will, it is expected, finally have four sections:—

          (a) Bioassay Section,

          (b) Pharmaceutical Section,

          (c) Sera and Vaccines Section, and

          (d) Vitamins Section.

and its functions will be:

      (1) To do research work, to standardise methods of analysis and tests
with due regard to climatic and other conditions prevailing in different