The government is close to finalizing a proposal to grant licenses in perpetuity to pharmaceutical companies, scrapping the existing policy that required renewal of licenses every five years. Aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in India, the government has proposed that manufacturers be granted licenses that will remain valid as long as they comply with good manufacturing practices (GMP). India’s drug regulator has also proposed an inspection of drug manufacturing plants every three years by both central and state inspectors to verify compliance with the conditions of license and provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The suggested changes in the existing Drugs and Cosmetics rules will soon be sent to the law ministry for vetting after which they will be notified. For drug makers, the amendment would mean doing away with the need to periodically renew licenses for the manufacture, sale and distribution of products. The manufacturers will have to inform the regulator and apply for a no-objection certificate in case of any minor or major changes made by them in their unit.