Over 50 Cough Syrup Failed Export Quality Test: Government Report (image-pixabay)As per the recent government report, over 50 companies in India manufacturing cough syrups failed quality test for export till October this year. The data from the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) report was based on the test conducted in various states of the country.
2,014 samples were tested in government laboratories of states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Union territory of Chandigarh, out of which 128 samples failed the quality test. And these tested samples were noted under ‘not of standard quality’ (NSQ), reports Hindustan Times.
From the 385 samples tested in Gujarat lab, 51 were found to be NSQ, while 29 out of 502 samples failed the quality test in the Ghaziabad lab. Similarly, the Central Drug Testing Laboratory in Mumbai analysed 523 samples, with 18 samples form 10 firms failing the tests. The Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory in Chandigarh released 284 reports, and 23 samples from 10 firms were found to be substandard quality.
Earlier, the Union commerce ministry released an order this year to mandatorily test cough syrup at government lab before shipping for export. The directive was issued after the rise of concerns regarding India-made cough syrups allegedly linked to death of children in some countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that about 70 children in Gambia died from acute kidney injury (AKI) which was potentially linked to the intake of cough and cold syrup produced by Indian manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
In response to the allegation, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) instructed the state drug controllers to prioritize the analysis of syrups before exporting. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also made it mandatory to obtain a certificate of analysis (CoA) after testing to export.
Meanwhile, the Indian government refuted all allegations of contamination and disputed the WHO’s findings. They emphasized that the products have been tested and results stated detection of no harmful substances.
The government laboratories designated for testing of samples, includes Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh); Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kolkata; Central Drug Testing Laboratory (CDTL), Chennai; CDTL, Mumbai; CDTL, Hyderabad; Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL), Chandigarh; RDTL, Guwahati; and any NABL-accredited state drugs testing laboratory.