Gujarat’s Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has cancelled the sales licences of 50 drug firms and ordered the closure of two manufacturing units following inspections that found serious violations.
In a parallel food safety drive, officials seized more than 42,988 kg of suspected food products worth an estimated Rs 93.47 lakh across the state in August.
The enforcement measures were reviewed at a high-level meeting held at the Secretariat and chaired by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.
The FDCA also suspended the licences of eight drug manufacturers and cancelled the manufacturing licences of 11 medicines following risk-based inspections. Show-cause notices were issued to manufacturers of 20 medicines found to be substandard during laboratory testing.
Of the 42 blood storage centres inspected, three were ordered to shut down, while 12 were served show-cause notices.
As part of a special drive to check antibiotic quality in rural areas, the FDCA collected 588 medicine samples for laboratory testing.
Action Against Illegal Medicines
The FDCA, along with the Special Operations Group, also cracked down on networks involved in the illegal sale of narcotic and counterfeit medicines in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Mehsana.
In Vadodara district, officials seized narcotic injections, including tramadol, from a shop located next to a medical store in Waghodia. Proceedings have been initiated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
In another counterfeit medicine case, officials conducted inspections at more than 30 locations over tablets falsely labelled as “Nicardia Retard 10” and claiming to be manufactured by JB Chemicals.
Crackdown on Substandard Food Products
The FDCA inspected 3,078 firms as part of a drive against illegal dairy analogues. Officials collected 145 suspicious samples and destroyed 2,553.10 kg of substandard products worth Rs 7.54 lakh.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya directed officials to maintain close surveillance of commonly consumed food products, particularly milk, ghee, edible oil and spices. He also instructed them to continue surprise inspections and take strict legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.