New Delhi: India's drug regulator has directed the port offices to tighten screening to prevent the entry of drugs without valid approvals, registrations or import permissions. The move is part of efforts to check the growing influx of unapproved and unlicensed drugs from neighbouring countries into the domestic supply chain.As part of the exercise, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued an advisory to all state and Union Territory drug controllers, as well as CDSCO zonal and port offices, urging them to take action against unauthorised products.ET has reviewed a copy of the advisory, which warns that medicines imported, stored, distributed and sold without the necessary regulatory approvals pose potential risks to consumers.The CDSCO has also ordered a crackdown on channels facilitating such unauthorised imports and sought tighter surveillance in the border regions, coastal areas and logistics infrastructure."Particular emphasis may be placed on border regions, coastal areas, transit points, warehouses, courier facilities, logistics hubs and other vulnerable locations that may be susceptible to the illegal movement of unapproved and unlicensed drug products," advisory said.State drug controllers have been urged to step up intelligence-gathering operations. "Intelligence gathering activities may be intensified and close coordination may be maintained with local law enforcement agencies to identify and curb unauthorised channels," advisory said."Appropriate enforcement measures, including seizure, detention, sampling, investigation, prosecution and other legal actions, as warranted under law, may be undertaken against any individual or entity involved in the illegal import, unauthorised storage, distribution, sale or marketing of such products," it said.Authorities have also been asked to undertake "continuous and rigorous surveillance of the pharmaceutical supply chain, including wholesale and retail drug establishments, distributors, stockists, hospitals, clinics and other stakeholders, with a view to detecting the presence of unapproved, unlicensed or illegally imported drug products", the advisory said.