Last Updated on September 7, 2020 by The Health Master
In a massive crackdown on the illegal sale of narcotic drugs in the drug retail supply chain, the Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) seized codeine phosphate based 4,941 syrup bottles of 100 ml costing above Rs. 5 lakh from a drug peddler based in Bavla in Gujarat.
The brand names of the syrup are Rexogen T syrup and Apdyl-T 115 manufactured in Himachal Pradesh. The state drug regulator has initiated action against marketing and manufacturing companies for illegal sale of narcotics and psychotropic substances in violation of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act.
According to Gujarat FDCA commissioner Dr H G Koshia, “This is the third case in a row over a period of one year wherein we jointly raided the premises in collaboration with narcotics control bureau and police.” Cough syrups were sourced from a manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh on which investigations are going on.
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In its ongoing crackdown on illegal sale of narcotic substances and Schedule H1 drugs, Gujarat FDCA canceled more than 80 licenses based on the intelligence reports during the lockdown period. Four firms have also been prosecuted for the violations. There are close to 40,000 drug wholesalers and retailers in Gujarat.
As per official reports, Gujarat FDCA has been monitoring rampant misuse and abuse of cough syrup brands over the past two years. It has also been observed that stockists have been found violating the conditions of license as per Rule 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules.
The state drug regulator had earlier booked 217 drug retailers for illegal sale of codeine containing cough syrups at exorbitant prices. Raids were conducted on over 300 drug retail stores in Ahmedabad, Patan and Nadiad in which 42 licenses were canceled to curtail illegal sale of narcotics and prescription drugs.
The regulations of narcotics drugs or Schedule X are more severe than that for psychotropic substances under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act. Schedule X comprises of 15 drugs currently as compared to 17 earlier. Meprobamate, methylphenidate and amphetamine are some of the drugs which can be misused.
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