Medical body issues show cause notice to 31 firms

Over 30 firms have been sent a show cause notice by India’s national regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) following concerns over the sale of drugs online or through other electronic platforms in contravention to the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday, March 17.
Cases involving drug quality were taken up with the relevant State Licensing Authority (SLA) for necessary action under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, said Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar in a written response. The SLAs are empowered to take action on violation of conditions such as licenses, including prosecution in an appropriate court of law.
Bharati also told the Lower House of Parliament that as informed by CDSCO, various representations are received raising concerns regarding the sale of drugs through online or other electronic platforms in contravention to the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Based on findings in these representations, CDSCO issued show cause notices on February 8 and 9 to 31 firms engaged in the online sale of the drugs, Pawar said. The CDSCO and Ministry of Health have taken regulatory measures to ensure the quality of medicines in the country as part of which the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, was amended under the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008, to provide stringent penalties for manufacture of spurious and adulterated drugs, the minister said in her written reply.