Maiden Pharma may lose import-export code over cough syrup deaths in Gambia

Pharmexcil suspends membership; may recommend DGFT to withdraw Import-Export Code

As the controversy surrounding the deaths of 66 children in Gambia being linked to India manufactured cough syrups by Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals, the Pharmaceutical Exports Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) has suspended the membership of the firm.

Going forward, the import-export code (IEC) of the company may also be withdrawn by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), sources said. Meanwhile, the Medicines Control Agency of Gambia has issued a notification to complete the recall of the ‘contaminated and substandard’ products of Maiden Pharma and quarantine all products of the company.

For now, the suspension of membership of Pharmexcil implies that Maiden Pharmaceuticals will