Maharashtra FDA cancels 10 Ayurvedic drug licences

The India — Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a statewide inspection drive of 434 licensed Ayurvedic drug manufacturing establishments across India — Maharashtra, assessing compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, and Schedule T Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The inspections uncovered serious violations including absence of qualified technical personnel, non-functional quality control departments, unhygienic premises, missing batch and raw material records, incorrect manufacturing dates, and lack of testing facilities. As a result, the FDA permanently cancelled the manufacturing licences of 10 firms - Krishna Herbal, Lalshah Organic Products, Aditya Pharma, Angaras Ayurveda, Kalidas Gandhi, Shivanath Ayurvedic Products Company, Induke Ayur Pharma Private Limited, Hakim Ayurvedic Beauty Care, Hilarious Ayurveda, and Yashoda Lab Private Limited - and issued show-cause notices to 135 other manufacturers. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasized strict adherence to prescribed standards to protect public health. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde separately called for stringent action against food adulterers under the India — Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, though this is a related but distinct matter.