{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Massive Crackdown on Counterfeit Drugs and Adulterated Food in Gujarat as 50 Pharma Companies Lose Sales Licenses",
  "summary": "Gujarat's Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) revoked sales licenses of 50 pharma companies and seized suspicious food products worth ₹93.47 lakh in August. Following a high-level review, Health Minister Praful Pansheriya directed officials to maintain strict action against fake medicines and food adulteration.",
  "content": "The Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) of Gujarat conducted an extensive month-long enforcement drive in August against counterfeit medicines, substandard pharmaceutical products, and adulterated food items across the state. As part of this comprehensive operation, the administration revoked the sales licenses of 50 pharmaceutical companies with immediate effect. Furthermore, authorities ordered the complete closure of two drug manufacturing facilities after detecting severe operational irregularities. During parallel food safety raids in various districts, officials seized approximately 42,988 kilograms of suspicious food products valued at an estimated ₹93.47 lakh.\n\nStrict Measures Against Drug Manufacturing and Sales Units\nThe progress of this statewide crackdown was thoroughly evaluated during a high-level review meeting chaired by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya at the State Secretariat. The Health Minister issued explicit directives to enforcement personnel, emphasizing a strict 'Zero Tolerance' policy against fake, substandard, and illegally traded pharmaceuticals and food products. Following risk-based inspections, the FDCA suspended the operation licenses of 8 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and cancelled the manufacturing licenses for 11 specific drugs. Additionally, show-cause notices were served to the manufacturers of 20 drugs that failed laboratory testing due to inferior quality standards.\n\nAction Against Blood Storage Centers and Illegal Narcotic Networks\nTo bolster healthcare safety standards, inspectors examined 42 blood storage centers operating across Gujarat. Following detailed scrutiny, orders were issued to close 3 centers for non-compliance, while 12 other facilities received formal notices highlighting operational deficiencies. In a major effort to dismantle illicit narcotic networks and spurious drug syndicates, the FDCA partnered with the Special Operation Group (SOG) to launch joint raids across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Mehsana districts. In Vaghodia, located within Vadodara district, team members seized a substantial stockpile of narcotic injections, including Tramadol, from a shop situated adjacent to a local medical store, subsequently initiating legal proceedings under the NDPS Act.\n\nIn another major investigation concerning counterfeit 'Nicardia Retard 10' tablets, search teams raided more than 30 premises. The probe uncovered an illicit supply network originating from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and extending to Ahmedabad and Sanand. Authorities confiscated suspicious drugs valued at approximately ₹1.75 lakh and formally lodged a criminal complaint with the Ahmedabad Crime Branch. Throughout August, FDCA officials inspected 2,238 food business operators and submitted 2,591 food samples for detailed laboratory testing.\n\nRestaurant Inspections and Food Safety Directives\nFood hygiene inspections were also expanded to cover over 1,625 hotels, restaurants, and roadside eateries across Gujarat. Officials issued improvement notices to 306 establishments where minor sanitation deficiencies were observed. However, 38 establishments faced severe punitive action, including the cancellation of operating licenses, due to major safety violations. Health Minister Praful Pansheriya instructed regulatory officers to maintain rigorous and continuous surveillance over daily essential commodities, such as milk, ghee, edible oil, and spices. He mandated unannounced surprise inspections and strict enforcement under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis major enforcement drive in Gujarat strengthens public health safeguards and eliminates substandard medicines and contaminated food items from the market.\n\n• Across India: Stringent state-level enforcement against counterfeit drug networks helps dismantle interstate supply chains. This ensures greater purity and reliability of pharmaceutical supplies across other Indian states as well.\n• In Gujarat: Action against non-compliant manufacturers guarantees that patients receive laboratory-tested and safe medicines. This significantly lowers the risk of counterfeit drugs at local pharmacies and hospitals.\n• Impact on Patient Safety: Strict scrutiny of 42 blood storage centers ensures higher compliance with storage protocols. This mitigates the risk of contamination during emergency blood transfusions and medical procedures.\n• Consumer Health Benefits: Regular monitoring of eateries and essential staples like milk and edible oil curtails adulteration. This ensures cleaner food choices for residents, helping prevent foodborne illnesses.\n• Compliance for Businesses: Food business operators must strictly adhere to regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Non-compliant units face swift penalties, including administrative shutdown and license revocation.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What major enforcement action did Gujarat's FDCA take in August?\nThe FDCA revoked sales licenses of 50 pharma companies, ordered the closure of 2 manufacturing units, and seized 42,988 kg of suspicious food products valued at ₹93.47 lakh.\n\n2. What steps were taken against substandard medicines?\nLicenses of 8 manufacturers were suspended, manufacturing licenses for 11 drugs were cancelled, and show-cause notices were issued to makers of 20 substandard drugs.\n\n3. What action was taken against blood storage centers in the state?\nOut of 42 inspected blood storage centers, 3 were ordered to shut down for non-compliance and 12 were issued show-cause notices.\n\n4. Where and how was the illegal narcotic drug network busted?\nFDCA and SOG conducted joint raids in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, and Vaghodia in Vadodara, seizing Tramadol injections and filing cases under the NDPS Act.\n\n5. How far did the fake 'Nicardia Retard 10' supply chain extend?\nThe investigation traced the illicit network from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to Ahmedabad and Sanand, leading to the seizure of drugs worth ₹1.75 lakh.\n\n6. What were the findings from inspections of hotels and restaurants?\nInspectors checked over 1,625 eateries, issuing improvement notices to 306 facilities and taking strict punitive action against 38 non-compliant establishments.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/gujarat/gujarat-men-nakali-davaon-aura-milavati-khane-para-bara-kraikadauna-50-knpaniyon-ke-bikri-laisensa-radda-26484",
  "category": "Gujarat",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-02",
  "tags": [
    "Gujarat News",
    "FDCA Enforcement",
    "Counterfeit Drugs",
    "Food Safety",
    "Health Department",
    "Praful Pansheriya"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}