Government says steps taken to check spurious, sub-standard drugs

NEW DELHI: The government has taken various steps to check spurious and sub-standard drugs including amending Drugs and Cosmetics Act which provides stringent penalties for offenders and setting up of special courts for speedy disposal of cases, Lok Sabha was informed today.

"The government to check spurious and sub-standard drugs in the country has amended the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 by the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008 to provide for more stringent penalties for manufacture and trade of spurious and adulterated drugs," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply.

He said that provisions in the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008 have been made for setting up of special designated courts for speedy disposal of cases to deal with the cases of offences under the relevant law.

Issuance of guidelines for taking action on samples of drugs declared spurious or not of standard quality in the light of enhanced penalties under the 2008 Act are on the Website of CDSCO for purpose of uniform implementation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act in the country.

Nadda said that the government has also initiated "Whistle Blower Scheme" to encourage vigilant public participation with regard to spurious drugs in the country.

He said that the government is also providing assistance for upgrading testing facilities and establishing new drug testing laboratories under the capacity building project through World Bank so as to enhance the capacity of the laboratories to test large number of samples.

Apart from these, the government is also overseeing inspection of drug manufacturing sites to ensure quality of imported bulk drugs, has amended Schedule M to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, pertaining to Good Manufacturing Practices in 2001 to make it at par with the international standards and others.

"It is mandatory for the manufacturers of drugs to comply with requirements of this schedule for quality control of the drugs manufactured by them," he said.