Centralised drugs control, regulatory cell set up in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: A centralised drugs control and regulatory cell has been set up in Punjab to keep a check on the sale of illegal and habit-forming drugs and to deal sternly with the violators of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

"A centralised drugs control and regulatory cell comprising 3 zonal licensing authorities (Drugs) has been constituted in Punjab," said Hussan Lal, Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, Punjab in a release here.

He said the centralised cell will collect information and conduct joint raids in the state to check sale of sub-standard quality and habit-forming drugs and pursue necessary follow-up action with the concerned authorities in the government.

Meanwhile, he informed that raids were conducted in Bathinda last week wherein recovery of drugs and packaging materials of approximately Rs 43 lakh were made.

The team inspected the premises of Ashoka Distributors at Adarsh Nagar, Bathinda and seized 81 types of allopathic drugs which were stocked for sale and distribution in the premises along with secondary packaging material in huge quantities, he said.

Most of the drugs were expired and it was suspected by the team that the firm was involved in repackaging of the expired drugs and unethical labeling, he added.

The whole quantity of drugs and packaging materials were seized, he said.