The West Bengal government has taken a tough stand on the sale and promotion of cough medicines in the state. The Drug Control Directorate has issued new guidelines for all pharmaceutical companies and stores, setting strict rules for the marketing and sale of the medicines. This step is aimed at ensuring public safety and avoiding future accidents.
This decision comes after the ban on the cough syrup called Coldrif . The drug was first banned in Madhya Pradesh, where several children died from consuming it. Following this, the West Bengal government also banned it in the state, calling it a “precautionary measure” to prevent future deaths.
Under the new guidelines, no shopkeeper or company will be able to sell a drug manufactured by another company under its own name unless it has a written agreement with that company. This provision has been made mandatory under Section 84D. Under Section 84E, companies marketing drugs will now be held equally responsible with the manufacturer—both for the quality of the drug and for legal accountability.
The state’s Drug Control Directorate has directed that companies that import and sell medicines manufactured outside West Bengal must submit a copy of their manufacturing agreement to the department within 15 days. This document will be submitted to an official email address for due diligence.
Companies have also been asked to regularly monitor the central government’s “Drug Alert Portal” to ensure timely information about any quality and safety concerns. The department believes this step will prevent the sale of substandard or unlicensed cough syrups and increase consumer confidence in the safety of medicines.
Recently, the Union Health Ministry also issued a warning against using cough and cold medicines for children without a doctor’s advice. Following the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, authorities across the country have become vigilant, and state health departments have begun closely monitoring the quality of medicines.