Srinagar, Oct 09: The Jammu and Kashmir Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) has banned the sale, distribution, and use of three cough syrup brands — including ColdRif Syrup — after government laboratory tests found them unsafe for human use due to the presence of toxic chemicals.
The decision came after a Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) alert revealed that the syrups contained Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in quantities far above permissible limits. DEG is a highly toxic solvent known to cause kidney failure and multiple organ damage, and has already been linked to the deaths of at least 14 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
According to the public notice issued by the Office of the State Drugs Controller, the affected products include: Relif Syrup (Ambroxol HCl, Guaiphenesin, Terbutaline Sulphate, and Menthol) — manufactured by Shape Pharma Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat, and marketed by Leo Life Science Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad. RespiFresh-TR Syrup (Bromhexine Hydrochloride, Terbutaline Sulphate, Guaiphenesin, and Menthol) — manufactured by Rednex Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad, and marketed by Smartway Wellness Pvt. Ltd., Sanand. ColdRif Syrup (Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Chlorpheniramine Maleate) — produced by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Tamil Nadu.
Tests conducted at the Drug Testing Laboratory of the Food and Drug Administration, Madhya Pradesh, confirmed high DEG contamination in samples of these syrups. The finding prompted both central and state drug regulators to issue nationwide advisories and initiate product recalls.
Calling the issue “extremely serious,” Joint Drugs Controller Purnima Kabu said that the same products had been linked to child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, forcing immediate preventive action in Jammu and Kashmir.
“As a precautionary and proactive measure, all pharmaceutical wholesalers, retailers, distributors, doctors, hospitals, and healthcare institutions must immediately stop procurement, sale, and use of these medicines, regardless of the batch number,” stated the DFCO circular.
The DFCO has also instructed all drug dealers and medical facilities across J&K to report existing stocks of the banned syrups to the State Drug Controller’s Office via email at jk.drugscontroller@jk.gov.in.
The alert over ColdRif Syrup has triggered similar bans in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, with several other states — including Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand — enforcing strict restrictions.
Although no cases have yet been reported in Jammu and Kashmir, health officials say the situation has revived memories of the 2020 Udhampur tragedy, when 12 children died after consuming Coldbest-PC, another cough syrup found contaminated with the same toxic compound.
Experts warn that DEG poisoning can lead to acute kidney failure, brain damage, and death, particularly in children.
“Even a small contaminated batch can cause large-scale tragedy, especially in areas with limited medical testing and supervision,” said a senior health official in Srinagar.(KINS)
