New Delhi, India: India has announced a crucial measure to ensure the safety of its exported products in response to the alarming incidents of child fatalities in The Gambia and Uzbekistan linked to Indian-made cough syrups According to a recent government notice, mandatory testing will be implemented for cough syrups before they are exported.

Starting from 1st June 2023, the Indian government has mandated that all exported cough syrups must possess a government laboratory-issued certificate of analysis, as per a notice shared by the health ministry. The reputation of India’s colossal $41 billion pharmaceutical industry faced a significant setback when the World Health Organization (WHO) discovered the presence of toxins in cough syrups manufactured by three Indian companies, despite its status as one of the largest pharmaceutical industries globally.

Last year, the cough syrups produced by two of these companies were directly associated with the tragic deaths of 70 children in The Gambia and 19 children in Uzbekistan, exacerbating the gravity of the situation. “Cough syrup shall be permitted to be exported subject to the export sample being tested and production of certificate of analysis,” cited in the notice issued by the trade ministry.

The health ministry did not provide an immediate response when queried about whether mandatory testing for cough syrups would be extended to those sold in the domestic market. The notice specified seven federal government laboratories as authorized testing facilities where samples of cough syrups could be sent for analysis, alongside state laboratories that hold certification from a national accreditation body.

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