Maha FDA Files FIRs Against Drug Peddlers For Selling Spurious Ayurvedic Drugs

Mumbai, 9 Oct 2018: In its ongoing crackdown on people selling spurious drugs, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed FIRs against three people who were selling ayurvedic medicines containing scheduled allopathic drugs.

A manufacturer based in UP in connivance with Aurangabad based retailer and wholesaler used to supply the spurious drugs laced with sildenafil citrate and anesthetic medicine -lignocaine hydrochloride across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and UP under the brand name Power Up capsule and Tiger King cream meant to treat impotence.

The state drug regulator recently carried search operations across the country to nab the offenders. Maharashtra FDA Aurangabad Division successfully seized the spurious drugs and confirmed presence of sildenafil citrate known as brand name Viagra in the batches. The drug can be prescribed for erectile dysfunction only under the supervision of a physician.

“The drugs used to be manufactured in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and were clandestinely sold. We have filed FIRs against all three people. The three accused who are in police custody now will be booked under relevant sections of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and prosecuted once the police investigations are over,” said Sanjay Kale, joint commissioner (drugs), Maharashtra FDA, Aurangabad.

Investigations are being carried across the country to keep a check on the supply of the drugs through retail and wholesale supply chain. 

As per official reports, state drug controllers across the country have been issued circulars about the drugs packaging which display false label claims of herbal components. 

Currently FDA has no control on ayurvedic drugs beyond registering manufacturers. A proposal to mandate issuance of sale license for ayurvedic drugs has been taken up for review by the Maharashtra government.

The state FDA recently raided and seized spurious drugs worth over Rs.11 lakhs from retail outlets of 13 ayurvedic manufacturers in Maharashtra in contravention to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 (DMR Act) recently.

These companies have manufacturing bases in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Pharmabiz