Nov. 2, 2015—Mumbai—The state branch of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is examining the supply chain of at least five cough syrup companies. It is attempting to find which batches had gone missing and entered the black market. The intensive drive comes after 14,500 cough syrup bottles of 100 mL each were seized from a warehouse in Nalasopara on October 26.
The FDA commissioner, Harshdeep Kamble, is set to hold meetings with manufacturers of five companies—Cipla Ltd., Ranbaxy, Pfizer Ltd., Promed Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. and Acron Pharmaceuticals—to collect details of their buyers. A list of wholesalers and retailers will be drawn up with the help of other state FDAs to understand the pattern for smuggling cough syrup bottles.
Cough syrups have emerged as an easy source of addiction for the younger population, especially school children. These are easily accessible and have economical prices ranging between 80 to 100 rupees for a 100-mL bottle. The syrups contain codeine phosphate that causes relaxation and euphoria. Excessive intake often leads to an anxiety attack, after which a person craves for another dose.
According to FDA officials, the confiscated supply was being sold at a higher price ranging between 115 to 130 rupees per bottle.
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