Maharashtra FDA clamps down on 880 drug firms, seizes over Rs 11 crore in illegal meds and cosmetics

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration stepped up its game between June and August, rattling the doors of 880 drug‑manufacturing and sales units. It wasn’t a casual stroll – the agency logged a staggering 2,902 inspections, covering 607 factories and 2,295 retail outlets.

What happened next reads like a regulator’s nightmare‑turned‑action‑movie. Out of those visits, 677 licences were put on ice, and another 203 were outright cancelled. The FDA didn’t just wave a red pen; it rolled out 104 search‑and‑seizure raids, snatching illegal drugs and cosmetics valued at Rs 11.41 crore. By contrast, the previous financial year saw seizures worth Rs 13.64 crore – a dip, but the sheer volume of cases surged.

Twenty FIRs were lodged, signalling that the law‑enforcement angle is being taken seriously. Numbers tell a story: complaints rose by a jaw‑dropping 557 per cent, investigations jumped 378 per cent, and both search‑and‑seizure incidents and the value of goods grabbed leapt by more than 200 per cent compared with the year before.

The violations? A mixed bag of hazards: sub‑standard and unauthorised medicines churning out of factories, sloppy quality‑control logs, and a glaring lack of registered pharmacists overseeing sales. Some sellers were even pushing medicines without issuing bills, while others offered scheduled drugs without a prescription – a clear breach of the law.

On the storage front, the FDA flagged expired drugs languishing on shelves and temperature‑sensitive products – think insulin and vaccines – kept in conditions that could render them useless or even dangerous.

“Ensuring safe, quality and regulated medicines for citizens is our highest priority,” said FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. “We’ve accelerated inspections to tighten oversight from the factory floor right up to the point of sale. Those who play by the rules will get our support; violators will continue to face strict action.”

In short, the crackdown serves as a stark reminder that the regulatory microscope is on, and anyone dealing in drugs or cosmetics in Maharashtra had better be ready for a thorough check‑up.