Gandhinagar, Oct 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has permanently cancelled the drug sale licences of four firms in Vadodara and Surat following inspections that uncovered the alleged illegal storage and sale of medicines, including codeine-based cough syrup, Tramadol and Sildenafil.
The action was taken on the instructions of Health Minister Praful Pansheriya and under the supervision of the FDCA Commissioner as part of the state’s drive against the misuse and illegal trade of medicines.
In Karjan of Vadodara district, FDCA officials conducted a joint raid at Chamunda Pharma based on specific information provided by the Maharashtra Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
The authorities seized 13,938 bottles of Anrex (Codeine) cough syrup, valued at an estimated Rs 27.8 lakh, and 12,240 Tramadol tablets estimated to be worth Rs 50,000.
The firm was sealed following the violations, while its sale licences under Forms 20B and 21B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act were permanently cancelled with effect from October 1, 2026.
Authorities also inspected Majisa Medical Stores in Karjan, which is associated with Chamunda Pharma. A stock of Lomotil tablets containing an NDPS component was found during the inspection.
Officials also found that a registered pharmacist was absent and that the refrigerator required for maintaining the prescribed temperature was switched off.
Following the violations, a show-cause notice was issued and the firm’s licences for retail sale of medicines were permanently cancelled with effect from October 5, 2026.
The action extended to online drug sales in Surat. On October 1, officials raided Dermatics India in Varachha and found that the firm was selling medicines through its website without a valid drug licence.
A stock of Sildenafil, Minoxidil and Ketoconazole valued at more than Rs 11.26 lakh was seized. Samples have been sent to the government’s FDL laboratory in Vadodara for analysis, with further court proceedings to follow after the laboratory report is received.
Another inspection at Kyara International in Mota Varachha on October 3 found digital evidence indicating that the firm had allegedly sold allopathic medicines worth around Rs 3.60 lakh through online platforms, including Meesho, in the preceding month.
The medicines were allegedly marketed under the name 'Sildenafil Ayurvedic'. Officials said action to cancel the licence of the same person had previously been initiated for storing medicines without a licence.
The latest case is being treated as a repeat offence and legal action is being taken under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Pansheriya said, “Selling allopathic medicines such as Sildenafil in the name of ‘Ayurvedic’ or medicines without a doctor’s prescription through online platforms such as Meesho or through private websites is a very serious offence.”
He said a joint team of the Cyber Cell and FDCA would undertake continuous digital monitoring of e-commerce websites to identify such illegal sales.
The minister also called for micro-level planning by the concerned authorities to prevent the misuse of codeine-based cough syrups and other medicines as intoxicants among young people.
"The government would continue strict checking and legal action against illegal medicine sales through both online platforms and physical stores," he added.
Source: IANS
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