Syrups made by two Indian firms had been linked to deaths of 70 kids in The Gambia and 19 in Uzbekistan final yr.

India will make exams obligatory for cough syrups earlier than they’re exported, a authorities discover confirmed, after Indian-made cough syrups had been linked to the deaths of dozens of kids in The Gambia and Uzbekistan.

Any cough syrup will need to have a certificates of study issued by a authorities laboratory earlier than it’s exported, efficient June 1, the federal government mentioned in a discover on Monday and shared by the well being ministry on Tuesday.

India’s $41bn pharmaceutical trade is without doubt one of the largest on the earth however its repute was shaken after the World Health Organization (WHO) discovered toxins in cough syrups made by three Indian firms.

Syrups made by two of those firms had been linked to the deaths of 70 kids in The Gambia and 19 in Uzbekistan final yr.

“Cough syrup shall be permitted to be exported subject to the export sample being tested and production of certificate of analysis,” mentioned the discover issued by the commerce ministry.

The well being ministry didn’t instantly reply to a question on whether or not testing can be required for cough syrups bought within the home market.

The discover recognized seven federal authorities laboratories the place samples could possibly be despatched for testing, along with different state laboratories licensed by a nationwide accreditation physique.

Indian exams of cough syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd, linked to the deaths of children in The Gambia, discovered no toxins however contaminants had been detected in lots of medication made by Marion Biotech, whose syrups had been linked to deaths in Uzbekistan.

Reuters information company reported final week that India was contemplating a change to its pharmaceutical trade coverage, together with elevated testing of cough syrups in addition to of uncooked supplies for medication. The firms deny any wrongdoing.

The well being minister and federal and state regulators additionally held a brainstorming session within the southern metropolis of Hyderabad earlier this yr “to find a solution to exported cough syrups that killed children”, a doc from the prime minister’s workplace dated May 15 confirmed.