Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 · Chapter I: Introductory
Section 3: Definitions
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, —
[(a) " [Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani] drug" includes all medicines intended for internal or external use for or in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of [disease or disorder in human beings or animals, and manufactured] exclusively in accordance with the formulae described in, the authoritative books of [Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Tibb system of medicine], specified in the First Schedule;]
[(aa) "the Board" means—
(i) in relation to [Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani] drug, the [Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board] constituted under section 33C; and
(ii) in relation to any other drug or cosmetic, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board constituted under section 5;]
[ [(aaa)] "cosmetic" means any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, or introduced into, or otherwise applied to, the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and includes any article intended for use as a component of cosmetic 7 * * *;]
[(b) "drug" includes—
[(i) all medicines for internal or external use of human beings or animals and all substances intended to be used for or in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of any disease or disorder in human beings or animals, including preparations applied on human body for the purpose of repelling insects like mosquitoes;]
(ii) such substances (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the human body or intended to be used for the destruction of [vermin] or insects which cause disease in human beings or animals, as may be specified from time to time by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette;]
[(iii) all substances intended for use as components of a drug including empty gelatin capsules; and
(iv) such devices intended for internal or external use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of disease or disorder in human beings or animals, as may be specified from time to time by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette, after consultation with the Board;]
[(c) "Government Analyst" means—
(i) in relation to [Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani] drug, a Government Analyst appointed by the Central Government or a State Government under section 33F; and
(ii) in relation to any other drug or cosmetic, a Government Analyst appointed by the Central Government or a State Government under section 20;]
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[(e) "Inspector" means—
(i) in relation to [Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani] drug, an Inspector appointed by the Central Government or a State Government under section 33G; and
(ii) in relation to any other drug or cosmetic, an Inspector appointed by the Central Government or a State Government under section 21 ;]
[ [(f)] "manufacture" in relation to any drug [or cosmetic] includes any process or part of a process for making, altering, ornamenting, finishing, packing, labeling, breaking up or otherwise treating or adopting any drug [or cosmetic] with a view to its [sale or distribution] but does not include the compounding or dispensing [of any drug, or the packing of any drug or cosmetic,] in the ordinary course of retail business; and "to manufacture" shall be construed accordingly;]
[(g)] "to import", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions means to bring into [India];
[ [(h)] "patent or proprietary medicine" means, —
(i) in relation to Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani Tibb systems of medicine all formulations containing only such ingredients mentioned in the formulae described in the authoritative books of Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani Tibb systems of medicine specified in the First Schedule, but does not include a medicine which is administered by parenteral route and also a formulation included in the authoritative books as specified in clause (a);
(ii) in relation to any other systems of medicine, a drug which is a remedy or prescription presented in a form ready for internal or external administration of human beings or animals and which is not included in the edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia for the time being or any other Pharmacopoeia authorised in this behalf by the Central Government after consultation with the Drugs Technical Adivisory Board constituted under section 5;]
[ [(i)] "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.]
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Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 3
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Gene Campaign & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a body under the Department of Environment, Forest and Wildlife, in its 147 th meeting held on 18.10.2022, recommended environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid,…
- Heinz India Limited v. The State of Kerala
- Hyderabad v. Ashwani Homeo Pharmacy
- Hasmukhlal D. Vora & Anr. v. The State of Tamil Nadu
- The State of Andhra Pradesh v. M/S Linde India Ltd.
- The Maharashtra Public Service Commission Through Its Secretary v. Sandeep Shriram Warade and Others
- Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals Limited (Formerly Known As Smithkline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (India) Limited) v. Union of India & Ors.
- Indian Soaps & Toiletries Makers Association v. Ozair Husain and Others
- Medley Pharmaceuticals Ltd v. The Commissioner of Central Excise and . Customs, Daman
- Commissioner of Central Excise, Nagpur v. Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan Ltd.
- Commissioner of Central Excise, Delhi v. Ishaan Research Lab (P) Ltd. & Ors.
- M/S. Naturalle Health Products (P) Ltd. v. Collector of Central Excise, Hyderabad
- S. Samuel, M.D., Harrisons Malayalam and Anr. v. Union of India and Ors.
- The State of Goa and Anr. v. M/S. Colfax Laboratories.Ltd. and Anr.
- Pratap Pharma Pvt. Ltd. and Anr. Etc. Etc. v. Union of India and Ors.
- Pratap Pharma Pvt. Ltd. and Anr. Etc. Etc. v. Union of India and Ors.
- B.P.L. Pharmaceuticals Ltd v. Collector of Central Excise, Vadodara
- Raghu Seeds and Farms and Others Etc. v. The Union of India and Ors. Etc.