Maharashtra FDA Cracks Down on Misleading Medicinal Ads, Seizes Drugs

The Maharashtra FDA has seized Ayurvedic and allopathic medicine stocks worth over Rs 73 lakh as part of a statewide operation against misleading medicinal advertisements and misbranded drugs.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has initiated a comprehensive crackdown across the state to tackle misleading pharmaceutical advertisements and misbranded drugs, confiscating goods worth Rs 73.24 lakh. This operation aligns with the directives from the newly appointed FDA commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe.

The initiative focused on commercial entities violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which prohibits false claims and promises of miraculous cures. Among the confiscated items were drugs falsely claiming to provide guaranteed cures for serious ailments. In various divisions such as Konkan, Pune, and Nagpur, significant stocks were seized. Pune alone accounted for a haul of misbranded allopathic drugs worth over Rs 21 lakh. According to Tukaram Mundhe, authorities are committed to stricter legal condemnation of deceptive advertising and unlawful medicine production.