NAFDAC Bans Indian Pharmaceutical Company For Manufacturing Falsified Medicines

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has blacklisted an Indian Company, Mars Remedies PVT Limited, for manufacturing falsified medicine for a pharmaceutical company in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Moji Christianah Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC on Monday, the agency also delisted Ciprofloxacin tablets BP 500mg with (NAFDAC Reg. No. C4-0498) which was manufactured for Pinnacle Health Pharmaceutical, Surulere, Lagos State.

“In view of the unprofessional practice, the Agency states that all products manufactured by the Mars Remedies PVT LTD, 635, GIDC Estate Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, will not be allowed into Nigeria with immediate effect,” the statement read.

NAFDAC said the company was blacklisted in a letter dated October 9, 2020, addressed to the Managing Director of Mars Remedies PVT Limited, and titled; “Notice of blacklisting as a manufacturer of substandard and falsified medicines.

According to the statement, the company violated the NAFDAC extant laws and regulations by illegally manufacturing different formulations of Ciprofloxacin tablets instead of the approved formulation for export to Nigeria.

NAFDAC further noted in the statement that the variation in the formulation of the Ciprofloxacin 500mg tablets, which may impact on the product quality and shelf –life, was not approved by the Agency before the changes were made.

“This constitutes a violation of the NAFDAC Act, noting with dismay that the company has displayed a flagrant disregard for compliance with global standards necessary to assure the production of quality assured products,” Adeyeye said.

The Director-General warned other manufacturers and importers of medicines to adhere strictly to the conditions for which their products were registered by NAFDAC or face similar sanctions.

KanyiDaily recalls that NAFDAC had also warned residents of Kaduna State on the health risk of food itmes and drugs allegedly looted from a warehouse located at Narayi in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.