Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 25: Drug and Food Control Organization today disallowed operation of four drug establishments in Jammu for breaching the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Acting swiftly pursuant to a report circulated in social media, wherein it was alleged that some chemist shops situated near Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu are indulging in unethical trade practices, Drugs Controller J&K Lotika Khajuria constituted a team of Drugs Control Officers under the direct supervision of Assistant Drugs Controller Jammu, Mohd Iqbal Pala to investigate the matter.
The team headed by Assistant Drug Controller Jammu carried out surprise/supervisory checks of Retail Sale Outlets situated in Bakshi Nagar near GMC Jammu. The inspecting team scrutinized the sales/purchase records of the firms randomly and found that sales records of some firms were not being maintained properly in consonance with the conditions of the licenses and mandate of law.
Taking immediate cognizance, operations of four such firms in Bakshi Nagar area were disallowed under Section 22 (D) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 and rules there-under.
Later, the Drug Controller called a meeting of Jammu Chemists Association wherein members of trade fraternity were impressed upon to sell drugs and other surgical items, particularly those being used in the management of COVID-19 viz. pulse-oxymeters, IR thermometers, etc at genuine price to the patients in the larger public interest. It was warned that the licenses of defaulter firms shall be suspended/cancelled as a punitive action.
Recently, operations of 13 Retail Sale Outlets were disallowed under Section 22(D) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 on spot. The reasons for suspension ranged from non-maintenance of sales records, impersonation, unhygienic/unsanitary conditions, improper storage conditions, etc.
The Drug Controller has appealed the general public to share any incidence of unethical trade practice to the department telephonically (0191-2538527) or through email deputycontrollerjammu@gmail.com/ deputycontrollerkashmir@gmail.com.