India introduces mandatory export testing of cough syrups after overseas deaths of children
- Any cough syrup must have a certificate of analysis issued by a government laboratory before it is exported, effective June 1, the government said
- India’s pharmaceutical industry was shaken after WHO found toxins in cough syrups made by 3 Indian companies were linked to the death of more than 80 kids
Any cough syrup must have a certificate of analysis issued by a government laboratory before it is exported, effective June 1, the government said in a notice dated May 22 and shared by the health ministry on Tuesday.
Cough syrup shall be permitted to be exported subject to the export sample being tested and production of certificate of analysis
Syrups made by two of these companies were linked to the deaths of 70 children in Gambia and 19 in Uzbekistan last year.
“Cough syrup shall be permitted to be exported subject to the export sample being tested and production of certificate of analysis,” said the notice issued by the trade ministry.
The notice identified seven federal government laboratories where samples could be sent for testing, in addition to other state laboratories certified by a national accreditation body.
Indian tests of cough syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd, linked to the deaths of children in Gambia, found no toxins but contaminants were detected in many drugs made by Marion Biotech, whose syrups were linked to deaths in Uzbekistan.