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Karnataka FDA Cancels 16 Drug Licences Over Spurious Medicines
Karnataka officials found an alleged illegal medicine repacking operation near Bengaluru.
The operation reportedly changed the labels on cheaper medicines to make them look like costly medicines.
Some products were said to carry the Pfizer name.
Officials also found that the medicines’ QR and scanning codes did not work.
They seized medicines, machines and printing materials worth about Rs 5.05 crore.
The Karnataka FDA cancelled 16 licences and suspended eight more.
The department warned that fake medicines may not contain the right ingredients.
Such medicines could seriously harm people who take them.
Karnataka FDA cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others held by retailers and wholesalers.
The action followed an August 18 raid on an alleged unlicensed repacking and relabelling operation in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district.
Officials seized alleged spurious drugs, machinery and printing materials valued at about Rs 5.05 crore.
Investigators said low-cost medicines were allegedly repackaged and relabelled as expensive multinational-company medicines, including products purportedly bearing the Pfizer brand.
The department said seized products could threaten public health because spurious medicines may contain wrong, missing or harmful ingredients.
- Who
- The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration took action against retailers and wholesalers linked to the alleged distribution and sale of spurious medicines.
- What
- Authorities cancelled 16 drug licences, suspended eight others and seized materials during an investigation into alleged unlicensed medicine repacking and relabelling.
- Where
- The alleged operation was found at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, in Bengaluru South district.
- When
- The raid occurred on August 18, and the licence cancellations and suspensions were announced on Sunday.
- Why
- The action followed allegations that low-cost medicines were repacked and relabelled as expensive life-saving medicines, potentially creating a public-health risk.
Key facts
- Licences cancelled
- 16 drug licences
- Licences suspended
- 8 drug licences
- Raid date
- August 18
- Operation location
- A farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, Bengaluru South district
- Seized materials
- Spurious drugs, machinery and printing materials
- Estimated seizure value
- About Rs 5.05 crore; the inventory was estimated at Rs 4.91 crore
- Alleged brand used
- Pfizer, among multinational-company products purportedly represented by the relabelled medicines
Sources
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