The Kerala Drug Control Department raided Amway's Kochi distribution centre and seized Rs.18 lakh worth of imported food supplements being sold as drugs without a valid license on last Friday. Amway is a leading multilevel marketing company having offices in different parts of the country.

The products include Nutralite Kids, a multivitamin and mineral supplement, a similar product Nutrilite daily, folic acid tablets for anaemia, a white essence cosmetic product claimed with melanin content etc. A team led by assistant drug controller MP George confiscated 300 odd bottles, including 590 packs of Nutralite kids and 60 packs of white essence. He said the products would be submitted to the chief judicial magistrate, Kochi.

Talking to Pharmabiz.com, MP George said the officials at the distribution centre of Amway had shown a letter from the DCGI office allowing them to sell these products as food supplements. However, the seizure was based on the Kerala Drug Control Department decision to seize 'all food supplements in tablet/capsule/liquid forms said to be fortifying with vitamins and minerals'. The decision empowers the officials to take action against the company under Schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act as the products are branded as drugs.

Earlier Pharmabiz had reported the Kerala Drug Controller had seized three products of Amway on similar charges. These products were Glucosamine HCI with Boswella, identified by the DC officials as a drug for joint pain, Siberian Ginseng, an aphrodisiac, claimed to improve 'work endurance and stamina' and Triple Guard Echinacea. Amway had approached the High Court against the seizure, and had obtained a stay against the ban fielding top lawyers in the country, helping to continue sales running into many crores of rupees.

In the Amway network, Glucosamine HCI with Boswella has an MRP of Rs. 2699 for 120 tablets in an HPDE bottle. Nutralite Kids, claimed to have 12 vitamins and four minerals including essential supplements like Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Zinc, is priced Rs.999 for a 60-tablet style bottle. The Siberian Ginseng is also priced Rs.2699 for 100 tablets. Though the DC office has not seized Nutrilite powder with amino acids, it costs Rs.749 for 200 mg and Rs.1549 for 500-mg pack. Some of the products are claimed to have no other substitute in the market with as much quantity and richness of minerals and vitamins.

Meanwhile, Amway in a press note said that the company was allowed by the court to sell its food supplements, and the company would approach the court against further seizure of its products. The court had asked the government and the drug control department to examine and file a report on the status of the seized samples. However, the respective authorities so far have not taken any action, alleged the company.

Amway India, part of the world wide multilevel marketing company Amway, has distribution centres in Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkotta, Delhi and Mumbai, besides distribution points in almost all parts of the country in major towns and cities.