Section 17 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 deals with Misbranded Drugs.
Bare Text
[17. Misbranded drugs.—For the purposes of this Chapter, a drug shall be deemed to be misbranded,— (a) if it is so coloured, coated, powdered or polished that damage is concealed or if it is made to appear of better or greater therapeutic value than it really is; or (b) if it is not labelled in the prescribed manner; or (c) if its label or container or anything accompanying the drug bears any statement, design or device which makes any false claim for the drug or which is false or misleading in any particular. 1. Ins. by Act 21 of 1962, s. 11 (w.e.f. 27-7-1964).
Simple Meaning
Section 17 states when a drug is deemed to be misbranded. It covers situations where damage is concealed, where the drug is made to appear to have better or greater therapeutic value than it really has, where it is not labelled in the prescribed manner, or where the label, container or accompanying material contains a false or misleading claim.
Compliance Relevance
This section is crucial for labelling, packaging, product presentation and promotional claims. Manufacturers, marketers, distributors and pharmacies must ensure that the label and accompanying material do not create a false or misleading impression. Section 17 is directly connected with the prohibition in Section 18 and the penalty consequences under Section 27.
Related Provisions
Section 16, Section 17A, Section 17B, Section 18, Section 27
Official Source
Verified from the official India Code PDF of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Readers should re-check the latest official text before professional reliance.