In response to recent reports of fatalities associated with cough medicines manufactured by certain Indian companies in other countries, the Indian government has introduced stringent regulations to ensure the safety and quality of these products. Effective from June 1, exporters of cough medicine will be required to have their products tested in government laboratories and obtain a certification. Exporters have been directed by the government to undergo tests for cough medicine at various authorized institutions, including the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Regional Drug Testing Labs, Central Drugs Lab, Central Drug Testing Lab, RDTL, and accredited labs under state governments. These measures are aimed at enhancing quality control and preventing the distribution of contaminated or substandard cough medicines. The urgency for these regulations stems from the tragic incidents in 2022, where numerous children lost their lives in countries like the Gambia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan after consuming cough medicines that were found to be tainted and traced back to Indian manufacturers. The World
