Imphal, October 11: The Manipur government has banned the sale and use of two cough syrup brands — Relife and Resipfresh TR — after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical known to cause acute poisoning, kidney failure, and even death.
In a public alert issued on Friday, the Drugs Control Administration under the Directorate of Health Services warned consumers, retailers, and healthcare providers against purchasing or using the contaminated syrups. Both products were manufactured in Gujarat.
The decision follows a report from the Madhya Pradesh Government Drug Testing Laboratory, which detected the poisonous solvent in samples of the two syrups. Acting on the findings, the state’s Drugs Control Department has prohibited their sale and consumption across Manipur and instructed all pharmacies, distributors, and retailers to withdraw the affected batches immediately and submit compliance reports.
Authorities have also stepped up surveillance in pharmacies and hospitals to ensure that no further distribution takes place. Health officials have urged medical practitioners to remain alert for signs of diethylene glycol poisoning among patients who may have consumed the products.
