Retail, wholesale stores to be inspected for three cough syrups

Drug inspectors will conduct surprise inspections at retail and wholesale stores to check the sale and consumption of three cough syrups that have been banned for use after the presence of toxic impurity diethylene glocol (DEG) was found in them. .

State Drugs Controller Dr Manish Kapoor said that the step had been taken to ensure that no retail or wholesale store sold cough syrups, namely Coldrif, Respifresh TR and Relife, manufactured by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat- based drug firms after the state government prohibited their use.

The cases of child mortality emerged in Madhya Pradesh after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, which was found containing toxic impurity DEG. Two other cough syrups — Respifresh TR and Relife — were also found containing the same impurity.

Kapoor said that the drug inspectors had been directed to ensure that no chemist stocked these cough syrups as their sale was prohibited in the state. If any stock of these syrups was found in the state, its information should be provided to the drug control administration.

All hospitals and medical practitioners have been warned not to use these cough syrups. them.