DCA seizes Rs 4 lakh worth medicines for expiry date tampering

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Drugs Control Administration (DCA), NTR District, has intensified enforcement operations against violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, leading to the seizure of medicines worth nearly Rs. 4 lakh from a pharmaceutical establishment in Vijayawada for allegedly tampering with drug expiry dates.

Acting on directions from the Director General, Drugs Control Administration, Government of Andhra Pradesh, officials conducted a joint inspection on February 20 and 21 at M/s. Dicon Health Care in Vijayawada. The inspection was carried out by Drugs Inspectors K.V. Bhupesh and A. Krishna, along with CDSCO Sub-Zone Visakhapatnam officials Veeraiah Banothu and Velisetti Vijaya Kumar.

During the inspection, authorities discovered that the licensee had allegedly altered expiry dates of nine varieties of medicines using fabricated rubber stamps. Officials seized 22 rubber stamps, a partially used bottle of chemical thinner suspected to have been used to erase original label details, and printed material containing multiple impressions of altered batch numbers and expiry dates.

Medicines valued at approximately Rs. 4 lakh were confiscated under a panchanama, and the seizure was reported to the III Additional Judicial Magistrate, Vijayawada, under Section 23(5)(b) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Officials said the violations attract provisions under Section 18(vi) read with Rule 104-A, punishable under Section 27(d) of the Act. Legal proceedings have been initiated and further investigation is underway.

In a parallel enforcement drive, the DCA conducted special operations against unlicensed medical practitioners in Jaggaiahpet and Penuganchiprolu areas, seizing medicines worth about Rs. 4 lakh from three illegal premises operated by quacks. All seized materials have been produced before the concerned Judicial First-Class Magistrate courts, and investigations are continuing.

Assistant Director of Drugs Control Administration, NTR District, P. Sri Rama Murthy, cautioned the public against seeking treatment from unqualified practitioners and urged citizens to purchase medicines only from licensed medical stores. He advised consumers to verify batch numbers, manufacturing details, and expiry dates before purchasing medicines and to report any suspicious drug products to the department.