Orchid Chemicals' plant gets closure notice from TNPCB

Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals today said its Chennai-based manufacturing facility has been issued a closure notice by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

The company's Cephalosporin producing facility at Alathur in Chennai was issued a closure notice by the TNPCB citing some non-compliance with regard to the disposal of solid waste, Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).     
"The company is in active dialogue with the TNPCB officials and is confident of resolving the issues and bringing the plant to a fully operational stage at the earliest," it added.     
Last month, the US health regulator had inspected and cleared Alathur facility, paving the way for continuous supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from the plant to the global markets.     
The Alathur facility manufactures a range of oral and sterile Cephalosporin APIs and caters to developed markets like the US, Europe and Japan.     
Cephalosporins are a newer class of antibiotics used in treating infections in different parts of the body.     
Shares of Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals were today trading at Rs 251.35 on BSE in late afternoon trade, up 1.13% from its previous close.