Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 Notification
The Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, formally notified the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 on March 12, 2024. This new code supersedes the previous UCPMP 2015 framework. Subsequently, the code was amended in September 2025 to further refine its implementation. The official document is available on the Department of Pharmaceuticals website.
The UCPMP 2024 introduces several revised provisions designed to strengthen the regulatory framework governing ethical marketing practices within the pharmaceutical industry. Key structural changes include the constitution of Ethics Committees for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMPs) and the mandatory appointment of Ethics Officers by all pharmaceutical companies. The code establishes a formal, structured complaint redressal mechanism and includes provisions for an appellate process to handle disputes.
A significant compliance requirement mandates that pharmaceutical companies submit annual self-declarations affirming their adherence to the code's provisions. Furthermore, companies are required to disclose their prescribed marketing expenditure, providing greater transparency into their promotional activities. The code specifically contains enhanced provisions that regulate all interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals or healthcare organizations, particularly concerning promotional activities.
The 2025 amendments focused on streamlining these implementation and disclosure requirements. A central change was the introduction of a mandate for companies to submit detailed annual statements specifically regarding the marketing expenditure they have incurred, which must be filed through a relevant online platform designated for this purpose.
This information regarding the notification and features of the UCPMP 2024 was officially provided by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply presented in the Lok Sabha on July 24, 2026.