CDSCO launches pan India campaign to test, inspect and audit all cough syrup manufacturers

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) will test, inspect and audit cough syrup manufacturers across India following the death of 20 children due to contaminated cough syrup.

Sources told CNBC-TV18 that CDSCO has now sought a detailed list of cough syrup manufacturers from all states and union territories (UTs) for auditing.

Large-scale audit begins

Teams from state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDSCO will conduct joint inspection and audit of cough syrups on the basis of “Not Standard Quality Rating” or NSQ. These are medicines that fail to meet quality standards or specifications.

Additionally, officials will also inspect the packaging of the finished product for label warnings such as dosage, prescription guidelines and mention of syrup ingredients.

Sources have also told CNBC-TV18 that the raw material used for manufacturing will also come under the CDSCO radar.

Madhya Pradesh Police On Wednesday (October 8), Sreesan Pharmaceutical owner S Ranganathan was arrested in Tamil Nadu in connection with the now-banned cough syrup case, which is allegedly linked to the deaths of at least 20 children.

The Tamil Nadu government has sealed the pharma unit and a police team was sent from Madhya Pradesh to inspect the facility as part of its investigation into the deaths.

Tamil Nadu had released a test report confirming the content of diethylene glycol (DEG) in samples of Coldrif, Respifresh and Refill syrups.

48.6% DEGs were found in Coldrif. Sources said the same sample was analyzed by MP FDA and it reported 46% DEG content.

However, on the same day the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) said Six samples of banned cough syrup were examined But according to sources, no trace of DEG was found in them.

Read also, Sources say CDSCO and MP state drug regulator have not found any trace of DEG in cough syrup