Licences of 176 retailers, 39 wholesalers cancelled over substandard medicines: Zirwal

Nagpur, Dec 10 (PTI) The licences of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers have been cancelled across Maharashtra in the past year over substandard medicines, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narahari Zirwal told the state assembly on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Amit Satam and others, Zirwal said that samples of cough syrup and other medicines were sent for testing and analysis as part of a special campaign launched by the FDA.

“Licences of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers were cancelled. Further, 136 retailers and 93 wholesalers were inspected. Show-cause notices were issued, and licences were cancelled for selling substandard cough syrups,” he said.

Zirwal said fake cough syrups were found in drug stores and companies during the FDA drive in October 2