The drugs control administration of Kerala has started issuing notices to 25 drug manufacturing companies, which have not yet implemented manufacturing norms as per Schedule M.

Among the 30 major drug manufacturing companies in the state, five have already completed upgradation works for cGMP certificate. Hindustan Latex Ltd., a company under Central Government, Kerala Chemicals and proteins Ltd., a company under State Government, Terumo Penpol, India’s largest manufacturers of blood bag, Sance Laboratories, Kottayam and Capsulation & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Alappuzha are the companies that already have acquired standards as per schedule M.

Almost 20 companies of these list has already started external preparations for GMP compliance and 5 companies have not started any works for compliance, said A Abdul Shukkoor, Drugs Controller of Kerala to Pharmabiz. The administration has asked the companies to reply within 15 days for the letter that has started issuance from middle of the week.

The department is planning to commence its second round inspection by the second week of December. The department is taking a pragmatic step by allowing time for the companies upto December first week to complete upgradation works, said Abdul Shukkoor.