Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Uttar Pradesh Tightens Crackdown on Counterfeit Medicine Networks
The Uttar Pradesh government wants to stop fake and unsafe medicines from reaching patients.
It has created stricter rules for giving medicine-selling licences.
Officials will check who owns a business and where medicines are stored.
They will compare shop records with the medicines actually in stock.
They will also examine bills, computer records, bank payments and transport documents.
Suspected medicines will be tested against genuine products.
Fake medicines can be seized, and the business licence can be suspended or cancelled.
People involved may face criminal cases under drug and narcotics laws.
Officials will pay special attention to codeine syrups, painkillers, insulin and vaccines.
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered stricter monitoring of drug licences, storage, billing and medicine supply chains.
Applicants for wholesale licences will undergo background checks, while licences linked to dummy individuals or residential premises may be denied.
Drug officials will scrutinize stock records, billing software, bank transactions and digital evidence for signs of illegal activity.
Suspected counterfeit medicines will be tested, seized and potentially subject to FIRs under drug, criminal and narcotics laws.
Special surveillance will target codeine syrups, painkillers, high-value medicines and other medicines covered by narcotics regulations.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with the Food Safety and Drug Administration, Drug Inspectors and Licensing Authorities.
- What
- The government issued a standard operating procedure for intensified action against counterfeit, substandard, adulterated and illegally traded medicines.
- When
- The order was reported on August 24; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, with the report datelined Lucknow.
- Why
- To protect patients and identify illegal medicine businesses, fake licences, counterfeit products and organized supply networks.
- Issuing authority
- Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob issued the standard operating procedure.
- Licence checks
- New wholesale licence applicants will undergo verification of their identities, backgrounds, firms and premises.
- Priority medicines
- Monitoring will focus on codeine syrups, painkillers, fast-moving and high-value medicines, and medicines covered by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances category.
- Evidence review
- Investigators may examine bank transactions, digital records, billing software, CCTV recordings, e-way bills and transport receipts.
- Cold-chain requirement
- Insulin and vaccines must be stored within the prescribed temperature range of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.
- Action against confirmed counterfeits
- Sales may be stopped immediately, stock seized, licences suspended or cancelled, and criminal cases registered.
- Investigation deadline
- Licence suspension or cancellation orders must be served on the licensee within a maximum of one working day.