Drug Controller J&K has suspended the operation of four Chemist firms in Bakshi Nagar area for committing breaches of the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 & rules. Acting on the reports about some Chemist Shops situated near GMC, Bakshi Nagar indulging in unethical trade practises, J&K State Drugs Controller constituted a team of Drugs Control Officers under the direct supervision of Assistant Drugs Controller ( Jammu ) who carried out surprise /supervisory checks of Retail Sale Outlets situated in Bakshi Nagar near Government Medical College, Jammu . The inspecting teams scrutinised the sales/ purchase records of the firms randomly and it was found that sales records of some firms were not being maintained properly in consonance with the conditions of the licenses and mandate of law. Taking immediate cognizance, operations of such four firms in Bakshi Nagar area were disallowed u/s 22 (d) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 on spot for committing breaches of the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 & rules there-under. Thereafter, a meeting of Jammu Chemists Association was convened wherein members of trade fraternity were impressed upon to sell drugs and other surgical items particularly those being used in the management of Covid-19 viz pulse- oximeters, I.R thermometers etc at genuine price to the patients in the larger public interest. They were impressed upon to ensure the smooth availability of these covid management tools at genuine prices. It was warned that the licenses of any defaulter firm shall be suspended/cancelled as a punitive action. It is pertinent to mention here that recently, operations of Thirteen Retail Sale Establishments were disallowed u/s 22 (d) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 on spot. The reasons for suspension ranged from Non maintenance of Sales records, Impersonation, Unhygienic/Unsanitary Conditions, Improper storage conditions etc . Statutory samples of more than fifty drugs formulations and sanitizers were also lifted for determination of strength and purity. These samples were referred to Drug Testing Laboratory, to ascertain their quality parameters. The State Drug Controller has appealed general public to share any incidence of unethical trade practices to the Department telephonically or through email: 0191-2538527 deputycontrollerjammu@gmail.com; deputycontrollerkashmir@gmail.com.
