Pune: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized stock from three Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in Pune, citing false claims of curing serious diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and kidney stones.

This action, conducted between April and October 2024, falls under the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

The FDA discovered that various Ayurvedic medicines were being marketed with misleading claims about curing severe health conditions without proper medical advice, which poses a risk to public health.

Regular checks are conducted by the FDA to verify the claims made on medicine labels. When false or exaggerated claims are detected, immediate action is taken.

Along with inspecting products, the FDA also monitors advertisements in newspapers and on television. If any objectionable content is found, the manufacturer is notified to halt the advertisements, and legal action is initiated.

In Chinchwad, FDA officers found a local medicine store selling an Ayurvedic product claiming to cure diabetes. Drug Inspector M. B. Kawatikar seized medicines valued at ₹36,600 and initiated legal proceedings in the Pune Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court.

Similarly, in Sadashiv Peth, an Ayurvedic product claiming to cure arthritis was confiscated by Drug Inspector Raziya Shaikh, who seized stock worth ₹5,727. Another case in Baramati saw Drug Inspector S. S. Bugad seize ₹4,000 worth of medicine falsely claiming to cure kidney stones.

This enforcement drive was led by FDA Joint Commissioner (Drugs) G. D. Hukare, with actions taken under Section 3(D) of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.

FDA Assistant Commissioner, Pune Division, S. V. Pratapwar, said, “We have seized stock from three companies due to false claims regarding disease cures. Legal actions have been initiated against these drug manufacturers. We advise patients not to treat serious illnesses without a doctor's consultation and to remain vigilant against fraudulent advertisements.”