India has directed Riemann Labs, a manufacturer linked to cough syrup deaths in Cameroon, to stop manufacturing activities, the country’s health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The action comes as Indian officials intensify their inspections of medicine manufacturers in response to the country’s cough syrups being implicated in the deaths of numerous youngsters abroad, damaging India’s reputation as the “pharmacy of the world.”
According to deputy health minister Bharati Pravin Pawar, central and state medicine officials ordered Riemann Labs, situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, to cease manufacture following an inspection.
According to the company website, Rajesh Bhatia, one of the three directors at Riemann Labs, informed reporters that he was unaware of the situation.
Three producers of cough syrup have had their manufacturing permits suspended by India thus far. If Riemann’s license was also suspended, Pawar didn’t say.
Two of the three companies’ cough syrups were blamed for at least 89 child fatalities in The Gambia and Uzbekistan last year. The businesses dispute any wrongdoing.
The World Health Organisation said last month that a batch of cough and cold syrup sold in Cameroon under the brand name Naturcold contained extremely high levels of a toxic ingredient.
The agency has sought help from Indian authorities to establish the origins of the syrup. Pawar did not name the cough syrup sold by Reimann in Cameroon.
India has tightened its testing of cough syrup exports since June, making it mandatory for companies to obtain a certificate of analysis from a government laboratory before exporting products.
