111 drug samples tested in November found 'not of standard quality'

Action to identify NSQ and spurious medicines is taken regularly in collaboration with state regulators to ensure such drugs are identified and removed from the market, the sources added.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has found 41 drug samples tested in the central drug laboratories in November to be "not of standard quality" (NSQ), official sources said.

In addition, 70 drug samples tested by state drugs testing laboratories have also been identified as NSQ in November, they added. Identification of drug samples as NSQ is based on failure in one or more specified quality parameters.

"The failure is specific to the drug products of the batch tested by the government laboratory, and it does not warrant any concerns about other drug products available in the market," an official said.

Two drug samples were identified as spurious drugs in November. Of the two, one was picked by the Bihar Drugs Control Authority and the other by CDSCO, Ghaziabad, the sources said. The drugs were made by unauthorized and unknown manufacturers, using brand names of other companies.

Action to identify NSQ and spurious medicines is taken regularly in collaboration with state regulators to ensure such drugs are identified and removed from the market, the sources added.