Hazardous Chemicals And Medical Device Self-Reliance On Panel's November 18 Agenda

The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers will hold two meetings on November 18 to discuss the safe handling of hazardous chemicals in industrial establishments, prevention of pollution and strengthening India's self-reliance in medical device manufacturing.

The first meeting, scheduled to begin at 11 AM at the Parliament complex, will focus on 'Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemicals in Industrial Establishments and Prevention of Pollution Associated with It'. Representatives from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, will brief committee members on the subject.

The second meeting will take place at 3 PM, after lunch, to discuss 'Self-Reliance in Manufacturing of Medical Device Industry'. Representatives from the Department of Pharmaceuticals will brief the panel on the issue, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening India's domestic medical device manufacturing capabilities and reducing dependence on imports.

According to a circular issued by the committee secretariat, members were informed about the meetings last week. Soft copies of the agenda papers will be uploaded to the members' portal or Sansad email in due course. Members have also been requested to attend the sittings.

The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers is one of the 24 departmentally related parliamentary standing committees and functions under the Lok Sabha Secretariat. It comprises 31 members, including 21 Lok Sabha MPs nominated by the Speaker and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs nominated by the Chairman. Its term is one year from the date of constitution.

The committee oversees three departments under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers: the Departments of Fertilisers, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, and Pharmaceuticals. Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is its chairperson. The committee was constituted on September 26, 2026.

Its responsibilities include examining the Demands for Grants of the three departments, reviewing bills referred by the Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman, examining the ministry's annual reports and considering long-term national policy documents referred to it.

The upcoming meetings will provide an opportunity to examine industrial chemical safety and pollution prevention alongside measures to strengthen India's medical device manufacturing sector.