The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found 40 not-of-standard drugs during the inspection conducted in the month of March as compared to 12 such drugs during the month of February. The sub-standard drug samples was detected in the routine random inspections carried out by the agency.

In March, manufacturers from the tax-free state of Himachal Pradesh registered an increase with 21 not-of-standard drugs and Rajasthan with 8 not-of-standard drugs accounting for the major share.

Well-known drug manufacturers like Swiss Pharma for loperamide hydrochloride tablets and lonza, loperamide hydrochloride tablets, Galpha Laboratories for solufer XT/ Ferrous Ascorate and folic acid tablet and fefazin XT tablets, Valence Healthcare for Diclored-S tablets, Endolabs for Megavit multi-vitamin drops, The Madras Pharmaceuticals for IMAX Forte capsule, and Elder Pharmaceuticals for Prexan Liquid also figure in the list.

One of the major highlights is the Galpha Laboratories from Himachal Pradesh with 11 samples and Baba Ayurveda Pharmacy from Rajasthan with 8 samples are listed this month.

According to the latest data released by the Maharashtra FDA, out of 40 such drug samples 21 were from Himachal Pradesh, 8 from Rajasthan, 4 from Uttaranchal, 2 each from Gujarat and Maharashtra and one each from Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

During March the companies in the list includes: Associated Biotech, D M Pharma, Digital Vision, Galpha Laboratories, ION Healthcare, Orison Pharma International, Sheram Lab, Spanker Biotech Ltd.,Terrace Pharmaceuticals, Tirupati Medicare and Valence Healthcare from Himachal Pradesh, Baba Ayurveda Pharmacy from Rajasthan, Elder Pharmaceuticals, Emami Ltd. and Francis Remedies (India) Pvt. Ltd. from Uttaranchal, Swiss Pharma from Gujarat, Endolabs from Madhya Pradesh, Tanpal Pharmaceuticals from Punjab, The Madras Pharmaceuticals from Tamil Nadu, Liberal Pharmaceuticals and Muktavan Pharmaceuticals from Thane, Maharashtra.

The state FDA routinely picks up random samples of drugs from chemists and druggists and send for testing. The department will soon issue show cause notices to these companies.