The Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that starting from June 1, cough syrups intended for exportation will undergo mandatory testing conducted by government laboratories.
This decision comes in response to the unfortunate connection between Indian-manufactured cough syrups and the tragic deaths of numerous children in The Gambia and Uzbekistan. As per the government notice released on Monday and shared by the health ministry on Tuesday, any cough syrup being exported must possess a certificate of analysis issued by a government laboratory.
India, renowned for its colossal pharmaceutical industry valued at USD 41 billion, faced a significant blow to its reputation when the World Health Organization (WHO) discovered toxins in cough syrups produced by three Indian companies. In particular, syrups manufactured by two of these companies were linked to the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia and 19 children in Uzbekistan last year.
The notice issued by the trade ministry stated, “Cough syrup shall be permitted to be exported subject to the export sample being tested and the production of a certificate of analysis.”
Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether testing will be mandated for cough syrups intended for the domestic market.
Earlier this year, the health minister, along with federal and state regulators, convened in Hyderabad, a city in southern India, for a brainstorming session aimed at finding a solution to the issue of exported cough syrups causing harm to children.