The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued show-cause notices to 10 drug stockists and seven retailers in Ghatkopar in Mumbai for non supply/services of life saving drugs to Tagore Medico, Tagore Nagar, Vikroli in Mumbai under the Essential Commodities Act.

According to sources, the show-cause notices were issued by assistant commissioner V D Patil, zone 5, Bandra for non supply/services of life saving drugs to Tagore Medico under the Essential Commodities Act. The FDA has asked the companies to reply within four days of the receipt of the show-cause notice, failing which the authorities will initiate action against these companies as per the laws.

The show-cause notices were issued on a complaint by the Maha-Mumbai Retail Chemists and Distributors Association (MMRCDA) which complained that these companies have stopped supplying of essential medicines to Tagore Medico (a member of the MMRCDA) without any good and sufficient reason, thus contravening the provisions of the Para 18 of DPCO.

The stockists who were issued show-cause notices are: Jalaram Distributors, Ghatkopar, GS distributor, Ghatkopar, Keshavlal Raichand Distributor, Ghatkopar, Suburban Distributor, Ghatkopar, Simba Chemist, Ghatkopar, Milan Medical Centre Ghatkopar, Shah at Savla Ghatkopar, Santosh Medico Agencies, Bhandup, Vaishnavi Medical Centre, Ghatkopar and SK Agencies Ghatkopar.

The retailers who asked the above stockists to stop supply/services to Tagore Medico Tagore are: Shree Raj Laxmi Med & Gen Stores, Mani Bhadra Medicos, Pooja Medicos, Prerna Medicos, Bharat Medical & General Stores, Madhuban Medical and General Stores and Manoj Chemist (all based at Vikroli).

Meanwhile, MMRCDA president Narendra Jain has demanded the suspension or termination of licences all the 10 stockists and seven retailers who played a role either to stop or stopped supplies to Tagore Medico to lay an example for others to prevent such illegal activities in future.