Disinfectants in Pakistan: DRAP rules

Products that kill germs on skin, surfaces or equipment, such as hand sanitisers and hospital disinfectants.

What counts

Disinfectants include hand sanitisers, surface and floor disinfectants and products used in hospitals to disinfect equipment. DRAP gave many firms permission to make hand sanitisers during COVID-19 in 2020.

What S.R.O. 1688 changed

Disinfectants were already listed as health and OTC products in the DRAP Act and the 2014 Enlistment Rules. S.R.O. 1688(I)/2026 now notifies them as therapeutic goods.

Who regulates it

DRAP Division of Health & OTC Products (2014 Enlistment Rules). Note: the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 also treat disinfection of medical devices as a medical-device purpose, so a product made only to disinfect medical devices may follow the medical-device route. Ask DRAP which route applies to your product.

What companies should do

• Check that your firm (manufacturer or importer) is enlisted with DRAP and that each product is enlisted. Under the 2014 Enlistment Rules a manufacturer applies on Form 1, an importer on Form 2, and products on Form 3 (general or nutritional claims), Form 4 (disease-reduction or therapeutic claims) or Form 5 (imported products).
• Do not run any advertisement, including on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok or WhatsApp, until DRAP's Advertisement Board has given written approval for that advertisement. One application is needed for each advertisement and each product, and an approval is valid for two years.
• Remove claims that a product treats or cures a disease unless DRAP has approved that claim. Advertisements may not compare with other products, call a product "the most effective", or encourage self-medication.
• Watch DRAP for a notice on timelines and fees. DRAP revised its regulatory fees for therapeutic goods on 1 October 2026 (S.R.O. 1660(I)/2026).
• Hospitals buying disinfectants through tenders should now add DRAP enlistment (or medical-device registration, where it applies) to the eligibility criteria.

Pharmacies, hospital buyers and the public

• Pharmacies and distributors: buy from firms that can show their DRAP enlistment, and keep invoices that name the firm.
• Hospital and public-sector buyers: ask bidders for the DRAP enlistment (or registration) of the firm and the product in the tender.
• Public: a supplement or medicated product is not a replacement for medicine your doctor prescribed. Be careful with products that claim to cure diseases such as diabetes or cancer; DRAP does not allow such advertising.

Other health and OTC product types

ProbioticsNutritional productsFood supplementsSpecialised baby milk for medical conditionsMedicated cosmeticsMedicated soapsMedicated shampoos

Sources

1. DRAP: Notification of Health and OTC Products as Therapeutic Goods, S.R.O. 1688(I)/2026, 6 October 2026
2. Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012 (as amended till February 2022), sections 2(xv), 2(xxxvi) and 4
3. Alternative Medicines and Health Products (Enlistment) Rules, 2014, S.R.O. 412(I)/2014
4. Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (updated up to April 2022)
5. Therapeutic Goods (Advertisement) Rules, 2025 (27 January 2025)
6. DRAP: Letter of cases of sanitizers permitted in the 77th meeting of the Enlistment Evaluation Committee (15 April 2020)

Prepared by the MedInfoBase team of pharmacists, physicians and academics. Last checked 14 October 2026. This page explains public DRAP documents in plain English; it is not legal advice. Always check DRAP's official notices before acting.