Telangana DCA seizes 'Fair and Bright' cream which claims to lighten skin color

Hyderabad: Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana seized ‘Fair and Bright’ cream at Miryalguda in Nalgonda district after it claimed to lighten skin color.

Such claims are prohibited under Schedule J of the Drug Rules.

On January 29, DCA officials of Nalgonda Zone detected a ‘drug’ from Sri Gopi Krishna Medicals, Islampura, Miryalguda. It is marketed under the brand name ‘Fair and Bright Cream’ (Hydroquinone, Tretinoin & Mometasone Furoate Cream) with a prohibited claim that ‘improves skin color’ on its label. DCA officials seized stocks worth Rs 10,080 during the raid.

According to the information on the label, Hydroquinone in the cream lightens the dark patches of skin. Tretinoin in Fair and Bright improves the appearance of the skin by diminishing fine wrinkle lines, reducing toughness, and improving skin color.

The drug with a prohibited claim was manufactured by BCL Pharma, Rampur Majri, Dhaulakuan, District Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, and marketed by Ashley Pharmatech Pvt. Ltd., Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

K Dass, assistant director, Nalgonda; K Someshwar, Drugs Inspector, Miryalguda; and G Surender, Drugs Inspector, Suryapet carried out the raid.

Further investigation shall be carried out and action shall be taken as per the law against all the offenders.

Drugs stocked without license seized from quack’s clinic at Nizamabad

In another case, DCA Telangana raided a quack’s clinic and seized drugs worth Rs. 50,000 stocked for sale at Kaldurthy Village, Bodhan Mandal, Nizamabad District.

On credible information, DCA officials of Nizamabad Zone, raided the premises of a quack Samaresh Halder, at door No. 4-95/25, Kaldurthy Village, Bodhan Mandal, Nizamabad District, who claims himself as a ‘Registered Medical Practitioner’ (RMP) and practicing medicine without qualification at his clinic ‘Shriya Clinic.’

During the raid, DCA officials detected huge stocks of medicines on the premises without any drug license. Fifty-two types of medicines including antibiotics, steroids, anti-ulcer drugs, anti-hypertensives, analgesics, etc were found stocked at the premises. DCA officials seized the stock worth Rs 50,000 during the raid. Further, DCA officials detected several ‘antibiotics’ at the clinic during the raid. Indiscriminate sale of antibiotics by an unqualified person may have disastrous consequences on the health of the public in rural areas, including the emergence of ‘Antimicrobial Resistance.’

DCA officers have lifted the samples for analysis. Further investigation shall be carried out and action shall be taken as per the law against all the offenders.

N Narsaiah, Assistant Director, Nizamabad, and R Srilatha, Drugs Inspector, Nizamabad (Rural) carried out the raid.

Violations punishable with imprisonment up to 5 years

“Wholesalers/dealers who supply medicines to such unqualified persons and those stocking and selling drugs without a drug license, are also punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Stringent action shall be taken against such wholesalers and dealers. Wholesalers and dealers shall mandatorily ensure that the recipient entities hold a valid drug license before supplying medicines to them. DCA Telangana issues drug licenses for the stocking and selling of medicines as per the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Stocking of drugs for sale without a drug license is punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act with imprisonment up to five years,” informed Director General of DCA, V B Kamalasanreddy

Surprise checks are intensified on such unqualified persons who are carrying out the stocking and sale of drugs without any drug licence. Stringent action shall be taken as per the law against violators.