The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued a direction to stop use, sale and distribution of not-of-standard quality drug (NSQ) Absorbent Cotton Wool IP, C7/2012 Exp Dt :06/2015, manufactured by Shanti Surgical Pvt Ltd, Kanpur. Report No: O-4/423/2012(CMSO).

The Government Analyst of Gujarat has declared a lot of Absorbent Cotton Wool as NSQ during a random testing. Some of the samples from the lot were taken for testing by the FDA authorities and declared it as sub-standard.

According to the State FDA authorities, the sample does not comply with the standards given in IP 2012, under the monograph ‘Absorbent Cotton Wool’ in respect of absorbency. The sale and distribution of not-of-standard quality drug is prohibited as per Section 18 of Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act,1940.

As per the policy of State Food and Drug Administration and Central Government, every drug inspector, assistant commissioner and joint commissioner has assured that no NSQ drugs are sold and distributed and also assure the recall of NSQ drugs in their jurisdiction.

Therefore State FDA has requested patients to return the stock of the Absorbent Cotton Wool available with them to the chemists shops.