New Delhi, October 24: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has flagged 112 drug samples as ‘Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)’ in its monthly drug alert for September, following tests conducted by both Central and State drug regulatory laboratories across India. The alert, released on Thursday, is part of CDSCO’s routine regulatory surveillance to monitor the quality and safety of drugs available in the market.
According to the report, 52 drug samples were identified as NSQ by the Central Drugs Laboratories, while 60 samples were declared NSQ by various State Drugs Testing Laboratories. “Identification of NSQ drug samples is done based on failure of the product in one or more specified quality parameters,” the alert stated.
Officials clarified that the NSQ classification applies only to the specific batches tested and does not imply that all batches of the same product or brand are substandard. “The failure is specific to the tested batch and does not warrant concern about other products available in the market,” health authorities explained.
In addition, one drug sample from Chhattisgarh was identified as spurious, allegedly manufactured by an unauthorized producer using a brand name owned by another company. The CDSCO said the matter is under investigation and that action will be taken as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act & Rules.
The regulatory body emphasized that the detection and removal of NSQ and spurious medicines from the market is an ongoing process conducted in coordination with state authorities to safeguard public health.
In comparison, the CDSCO had declared 94 drug samples NSQ in August, including 32 identified by Central laboratories and 62 by State laboratories. The rising number of substandard drug samples continues to underline the government’s efforts to strengthen quality checks and regulatory oversight in India’s pharmaceutical sector.
