The Drugs Department raids an Ayush firm after 10 children allegedly die after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, in Chhindwara on October 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Union Health Ministry has sought strict compliance from all drug manufacturers, in line with the revised Schedule M norms for pharmaceutical products in India. Licences of non-compliant units would be cancelled, the Ministry has warned.The direction comes after an emergency meeting with all States and Union Territories on Sunday (October 5, 2025) evening, following a report by the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department, which found above permissible levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) in samples of Coldrif, a cough syrup brand.Testing of cough syrup brands was initiated following the death of more than 10 children in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh recently.Preliminary findings in past week have ruled out common infectious diseases, except for one positive case of leptospirosis. Nineteen medicine samples consumed by the children were collected from private medical practitioners and nearby retail stores. The chemical analysis so far indicates that out of the 10 samples analysed till date, nine met quality standards. However, one of them, namely, the cough syrup Coldrif contained DEG beyond the permissible limit. Subsequently, regulatory action has been taken by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drugs Administration on the unit, which is located in Kancheepuram. Cancellation of the manufacturing license has been recommended by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation based on findings upon inspection. Criminal proceedings have also been initiated, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.Tamil Nadu’s Drugs Control Department issued an immediate stop production order to the manufacturer of the Coldrif brand of cough syrup following an analysis by a government drug testing laboratory, which found a batch to be “not of standard quality” and “adulterated with diethylene glycol”.“The report from the Madhya Pradesh drug regulatory authority is still awaited,’’ a senior Health Ministry official said.Watch: Coldrif cough syrup | Why many states have banned?
