Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has published a Gazette Notification GSR no. 604 (E) dated 24.08.2001 amending the various provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, thereby introducing a new provision for the registration of the manufacturing premises of foreign drug manufacturer and the individual drugs prior to their import into the country. The notification has also introduced few other provisions viz. enhanced import licence fees, increased validity period of licence, deletion of exemption from requirement of import licence for bulk drugs for actual users, requirement of minimum 60% of retained shelf life for imported drugs and provisions for import of small quantities of new drugs by Govt. hospitals for treatment of their own patients etc.