The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) announced on Friday that 211 drug samples tested in October had been classified as ‘Not of Standard Quality’ (NSQ).
The monthly findings form part of routine regulatory surveillance carried out by Central and State drug authorities.
According to the latest alert, Central Drugs Laboratories declared 63 samples as NSQ, while State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified an additional 148 samples that failed to meet prescribed quality standards.
The CDSCO classifies drugs as NSQ when they fail to meet specified parameters during laboratory testing.
These failures apply only to the particular batch tested and do not indicate a blanket problem with other batches or products of the same manufacturer.
Health officials stressed that NSQ findings are batch-specific and do not automatically imply wider concerns regarding other drug products currently in circulation.
Spurious Drug Samples Also Identified
The October alert also noted the detection of spurious drug samples.
Investigators identified three samples from Bihar and two from Delhi as counterfeit, produced by unauthorised manufacturers using brand names owned by legitimate companies.
Authorities confirmed they are actively investigating these cases and will initiate action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and relevant rules.
CDSCO stated it routinely identifies NSQ and spurious drugs in close coordination with State regulatory bodies.
The objective is to detect, remove, and prevent the circulation of drugs that could compromise patient safety.
CDSCO publishes the list of NSQ drugs monthly on its portal, demonstrating the robustness of the regulatory framework and its ongoing efforts to maintain high pharmaceutical quality standards in public health.
The October figures show a significant rise from September, when authorities labelled 112 samples as NSQ.
In that month, Central laboratories identified 52 substandard samples, while State laboratories reported 60.
The sharp increase reinforces the need for stringent quality monitoring and effective enforcement measures to prevent the distribution of unsafe or inferior medicinal products.
CDSCO and State regulators are expected to continue expanding surveillance and strengthening inspection mechanisms to ensure drug quality across the country.
The organisation emphasised that regulatory vigilance plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health and maintaining trust in India’s pharmaceutical ecosystem.
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