The drug control department of the Kerala Government has banned marketing a few batches of antibiotics and surgical items found to be of substandard quality, following sample tests conducted last month at the state drug control laboratory.

This includes cloxacillin caps IP capsule of batch number CSC 0202 and cloxacillin sodium capsule IP of batch CXC 0210 manufactured by Mesters Nester Pharmaceuticals Ltd., with address L3, Wyana Industrial Estate, Goa.

The drug control department has also banned one batch of dexamethazone sodium phosphate injection manufactured by the animal healthcare division of Mesters Sara Pharmaceuticals, based at Nagerkoil in Tamil Nadu.

Mebendazol tablets IP of batch number 8250 manufactured by Mesters Jackson Laboratories Private Ltd., Amritsar was also found to be substandard quality.

The concerned companies have been informed to withdraw the batches from the market, informed the state drug control department.