New Delhi, July 10 -- The Union ministry of health and family welfare has brought medicinal products containing ethyl alcohol under stricter regulatory oversight by removing their licensing exemption under Schedule K and placing them under Schedule H1 to check misuse and addiction.

"In a significant step towards strengthening regulatory oversight and preventing misuse of medicinal products with high alcohol content, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has removed the existing exemption (under Schedule K) from licensing requirements for formulations containing ethyl alcohol," the health ministry said in a statement.

Certain medicinal products, including tinctures of cardamom, ginger and other aromatic preparations, have been exempt...