New Delhi, In a move aimed at speeding up approvals for new drugs, the government has changed the way testing permissions are granted, allowing companies to begin laboratory testing immediately after filing applications instead of waiting for detailed scrutiny. CDSCO modifies norms for testing permissions to speed up drug approvals In an official circular, the country’s apex drug regulatory authority, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization , said it has decided that “No Objection Certificate for testing of drug samples at the designated laboratories shall be issued immediately upon receipt of applications in the concerned division.” Earlier, the regulator examined detailed specifications submitted by applicants before issuing permission for testing. These included “Type of formulation, dosage form, Critical Quality Attributes , and general characteristics of the product,” along with “Product development reports, forced degradation studies, and other relevant data, in accordance with applicable guidelines,” compliance with pharmacopoeial monographs, and provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Testing is a mandatory prerequisite before approval and is conducted at government laboratories, including the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission , …