To combat marketing of fake and look-alike drugs, the Karnataka Drugs Control department has made it mandatory that for all new drug-manufacturing licenses, the pharmaceutical companies should submit a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Registrar of Trademarks to get a clearance on the brand name.

The Karnataka Drugs Control department is the second in the country after Delhi to ensure that prior permission is sought from the trademarks office. The DC has now issued a circular asking the pharmaceutical companies to seek the certificate from the Registrar of Trademarks before applying or renewing licenses.

However, since there is no office of the Registrar of Trademarks in Bangalore, the companies will have to get the certificate from either Delhi or Mumbai office.

The main reason for registering the names of drugs is to avoid duplication, said Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed, Karnataka Drugs Controller. But at the same time, he said, the department will not insist on the change of name of existing drugs if they do not resemble the existing brands. Nevertheless, in the case of brands, which resembles in a manner that is likely to deceive the customer, will necessarily need an NOC from the trademarks office.

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Section 17 B, called to seek the permission to manufacture a drug under a brand name so that there would be no confusion or cheating in the market, he stated.

The drugs controller added that Karnataka did not have a problem of spurious drug production and that all the figures referred were exaggerated. The department is now awaiting the details from the Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Association (KDPMA) members on extent of spurious drugs production in the state. "The details by the KDPMA would be a trend setter for the entire country," added Dr. Suresh Muhammed.