Pune, 29th August 2026: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the C&F drug sale licence of Cipla Pharma & Life Sciences Ltd at Wadki with immediate effect from August 27. The action followed violations related to prescription-drug advertising, storage and record-keeping.
The FDA had inspected Cipla Pharma’s main warehouse in Wadki in June 2026. During the inspection, officials found unauthorised wording on the packaging of Reactin Plus tablets, a Schedule H drug. The packaging described the medicine as an 'analgesic' and 'antipyretic', which the FDA said amounted to unauthorised advertising.
The FDA said such advertising could encourage people to take prescription medicines without consulting doctors, potentially putting public health at risk.
The department subsequently seized drug stock worth ₹11.19 lakh and ordered the company to recall the affected stock from the market. However, the company did not properly comply with the recall directions. The FDA then cancelled the licence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The inspection also revealed several other shortcomings:
Failure to properly comply with directions to recall drug stock from the market.
A major mismatch between physical drug stock and computerised purchase and sales records.
Inadequate racks and pallets for drug storage, with some medicines kept directly on the floor.
Serious shortcomings in the handling and record-keeping of expired medicines.
“Drug safety and public health are matters on which the Food and Drug Administration will not compromise. Legal provisions must be strictly followed in the advertising, sale and storage of Schedule H medicines. Strict legal action will be taken against those who violate the rules,” said FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
