Syrup made by Ankleshwar-based pharma company found substandard

Ankleshwar: Samples of syrups produced by Ankleshwar-based pharmaceutical firm Norris Medicines Ltd have been found to contain contaminants, specifically ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. These contaminants had previously been detected in certain syrups allegedly linked to fatalities in the Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon over the past year.

In August, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) declared samples of 48 drugs as “not of standard quality” or “spurious” out of a total of 1,166 samples tested.

Samples from a batch of cough syrup and another batch of anti-allergy syrup, both manufactured by Gujarat-based Norris Medicines Limited, were found to be “not of standard quality,” containing 0.118 percent ethylene glycol and 0.171 percent ethylene glycol, respectively, and 0.243 percent diethylene glycol. Norris Medicines Ltd. was instructed to halt production at its Ankleshwar plant a month ago.

H G Koshia, Commissioner of Gujarat’s Foods and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), stated that Norris Medicines Ltd. was instructed to suspend production at its Ankleshwar plant a month ago. He emphasized that central and state government agencies have been working to prevent any tarnishing of India’s reputation in the pharmaceutical sector due to the actions of some companies.

Koshia noted that an FDCA team had inspected the plant in the Ankleshwar industrial area of Bharuch district and identified several critical and major compliance issues that could pose health risks to the public. Consequently, a show-cause notice was issued, and the company was directed to cease production immediately a month ago. As of now, the plant remains non-operational. The company will only be allowed to resume production once it complies with the norms specified by the FDCA. DeshGujarat