Rajasthan issued an immediate ban on the sale, distribution, and use of seven medicines on 22 April 2026 after laboratory testing found them to be substandard. The Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control, Rajasthan, classified the medicines as “Not of Standard Quality” after tests conducted between 1 April 2026 and 15 April 2026.
Regulatory Action in Rajasthan
State Drug Controller Ajay Phatak directed all drug control officers in Rajasthan to remove the available stock of the listed medicines from the market. The action was initiated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which regulates the manufacture, sale, and distribution of drugs in India.
Medicines Declared Not of Standard Quality
- Cefixime Oral Suspension IP, sold as Loraxim dry syrup 12 g/30 ml, was manufactured by Lark Laboratories (India) Ltd., Alwar, and failed assay testing.
- Albendazole tablets, manufactured by Affy Parenterals, Himachal Pradesh, failed the dissolution test.
- Ambroxol hydrochloride, Levosalbutamol and Guaifenesin drops, sold as Istocuf-LS, were manufactured by Digital Vision, Himachal Pradesh.
- Methylprednisolone tablets 4 mg, sold as Methyloactive-4, were manufactured by United Bioceuticals Pvt Ltd, Delhi, and failed dissolution testing.
- Dextromethorphan HBr and Chlorpheniramine maleate syrup, sold as Okuff-DX, were manufactured by Taksa Lifesciences Pvt Ltd, Delhi.
- Cefuroxime Axetil tablets IP, sold as Extensive-500, were manufactured by VADSP Pharmaceuticals, Himachal Pradesh.
- Ciprofloxacin tablets 500 mg were manufactured by Omega Pharma, Uttarakhand.
Drug Quality Tests
Assay testing measures the amount of active ingredient in a medicine. Dissolution testing measures how quickly and how completely a tablet or capsule releases its active ingredient in a test medium.
Public Health Context
Substandard medicines can cause treatment failure, prolonged illness, and antimicrobial resistance. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, is the principal law for drug regulation in India.
Last Modified: April 23, 2026