Plaint against 67 channels over drug ads

In the past six months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed complaints against 67 channels for airing advertisements for products that claim to provide remedies for disorders like joint pain, infertility and obesity in 13 police stations across Mumbai.

In the past six months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed complaints against 67 channels for airing advertisements for products that claim to provide remedies for disorders like joint pain, infertility and obesity in 13 police stations across Mumbai.

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These complaints will be turned into First Information Reports (FIR) only after the police conduct a preliminary investigation.

The complaints have been filed under various sections of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1955 and Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

We want the police to take strict action against the channels, their management, the manufacturers, distributors, and actors in the advertisements," said Mahesh Zagade, state FDA commissioner. The actors who endorse such products include Govinda, and Jackie Shroff, among others.

As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, advertisements that claim to cure 51 ailments listed under schedule J including baldness, congenital malformation, obesity, and sexual impotence are prohibited. Under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, the offence attracts a punishment of imprisonment up to six months.

Most of these drugs only put up numbers in the advertisements and courier the products home. However, if the customer has any problems, there is no address provided by them," said Suhas Mohite, assistant commissioner, FDA Thane.