TN orders halt on Coldrif cough syrup after contamination found; show-cause memo served

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department has issued an immediate stop-production order to the manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup after a batch was found to be of non-standard quality and adulterated with Diethylene glycol, according to the Tamil Nadu Government Drugs Testing Laboratory.

In addition, a Show-Cause Memo has been served to the manufacturer for the potential cancellation of their manufacturing licence, said S. Gurubharathi, Deputy Director of Drugs Control and Licensing Authority cum Controlling Authority, Tamil Nadu, to ANI.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has suspended the state drug controller, Rajaram Sharma, and halted the distribution of medicines manufactured by Jaipur-based Kaysons Pharma, officials confirmed. The Medical and Health Department ordered the stoppage of all 19 medicines produced by Kaysons Pharma until further notice. Additionally, the distribution of all other cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan has been suspended.

The action comes in the wake of reports of the deaths of 11 children, nine in Madhya Pradesh and two in Rajasthan, allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrup. The Rajasthan government cited allegations that Sharma had influenced the process of determining drug standards, prompting his suspension.