Karnataka FDA cancelled 16 drug licenses and suspended eight others. (File photo)
BENGALURU: The Karnataka FDA on Sunday said it has cancelled 16 drug licences of retailers and wholesalers and suspended eight others over the alleged distribution and sale of spurious medicines. The action followed an inspection by the Food Safety and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Drug Enforcement Wing on August 18, which busted an alleged unlicensed pharmaceutical repacking and relabelling operation at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, in Bengaluru South district. Officials said spurious drugs, machinery and printing materials worth around Rs 5.05 crore were seized during the raid, with the inventory of the seized materials estimated at Rs 4.91 crore.
I would not like to comment further now,” he said. Further stating that some officials have also been suspended in this connection, the minister said licences of retailers and wholesalers involved in distributing and selling spurious drugs have been cancelled or suspended. “The department officials have identified a big scale fake medicine network or mafia. Upon learning about the involvement of individuals from other states, we formed an SIT involving personnel from the Drug department, police and Commercial Tax department, and the investigation is ongoing.
Because they did not cooperate with the SIT probe. (With inputs from PTI) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news, action has also been taken against Pfizer. Download the TOI App.
A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Under Section 17B, counterfeit and fake medicines are classified as spurious drugs, while offences involving their manufacture, sale, stocking or distribution attract stringent punishment under Section 27, including rigorous imprisonment and fines, it said. 66/3 B2, Kempalinganahalli, Nelamangala taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, has also been suspended, it said. The investigation team also seized 30 boxes of expired medicines, raising concerns that expired products may have been reintroduced into the supply chain.
This action is reportedly due to alleged non cooperation with the SIT probe.
A preliminary investigation found that low-cost medicines procured from neighbouring states were allegedly repacked in new vials and relabelled as expensive life-saving medicines of multinational companies, including products purportedly bearing the ‘Pfizer’ brand, the department said in a release. The counterfeit labels also carried QR or scanning codes, which were found to be non-functional during verification, it said. The department said the seized products could pose a serious threat to public health as spurious medicines may contain no active pharmaceutical ingredients, incorrect ingredients or potentially harmful substances. Sixteen licences have been cancelled and eight suspended, the FDA said. A Special Investigation Team has expanded the probe to trace the alleged supply chain and identify other persons involved in the racket, officials said. Health Minister U T Khader, speaking to reporters here, said stringent action will be taken against those involved based on the SIT report.
As part of the continuing investigation, action has also been initiated against retailers and wholesalers allegedly involved in distributing and selling the spurious drugs. The licence of M/s Pfizer C & F Depot, Survey No. The batch numbers and details of the seized medicines are being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal to prevent their further sale or distribution. Samples have also been sent for laboratory analysis to ascertain their chemical composition, sterility and potency. The department has advised consumers to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies against valid tax invoices and report suspicious changes in packaging or non-functional QR codes on drug labels to the Drug Enforcement authorities.
The seized medicines, machinery and printing materials are being documented and will be produced before the JMFC court in Bengaluru South for further proceedings.