Madhya Pradesh Bans Coldrif Cough Syrup | 08 Oct 2025
Why in News?
The Madhya Pradesh government has announced a complete ban on the sale of Coldrif Syrup across the state following several children's deaths due to kidney failure.
- The Tamil Nadu government conducted a probe and found that samples of Coldrif Syrup contained 48.6% Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical known to cause severe kidney damage.
Key Points
- About: The finding of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) led to state-level bans and triggered nationwide regulatory action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
- Diethylene Glycol (DEG): It is a colourless, sweet-tasting industrial chemical commonly used in brake fluids and antifreeze.
- It is misused as a cheap substitute solvent in drug production owing to its close physical similarity to safe pharmaceutical compounds.
- Consumption of DEG can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, kidney failure, and nervous system damage, and may be fatal at high doses.
- Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: It regulates the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of drugs and cosmetics in India through licences and permits.
- Its main aim is to ensure that marketed drugs and cosmetics are safe, effective, and meet national standards.
- The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, complement the Act by classifying medications into schedules and providing guidelines for their storage, sale, presentation, and prescription.