Regulator bars J&J from using talc raw material from 2 units

New Delhi, December 20

Apex drug regulator today barred Johnson & Johnson from using raw material from its Himachal and Mumbai facilities for production of baby talc till further orders.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said during raids at the firm’s Baddi and Mulund plants, it was found that while Baddi had stored 82,000 kg of raw material for baby powder production, the Mulund plant had 200 metric tonne.

“The company has been ordered not to use this material for further production till all its samples are analysed for safety issues and declared quality compliant,” an official said. Central drug licensing inspectors had yesterday raided the J&J facilities to draw raw material and finished product samples, besides collecting over 100 samples from distributors and retailers.

J&J is under national investigation for presence of cancer-causing asbestos in its products after a US jury in Missouri recently held it liable as 22 women pressed charges that they had contracted ovarian cancer after using the baby powder. — TNS