GUWAHATI: The manufacturing licenses for 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. and its sister concern Divya Pharmacy have been suspended by the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority (SLA) following a Supreme Court directive on April 10. The court had admonished the SLA for its inaction against the companies for illegal advertisements of these products.
According to an affidavit filed by the SLA before the Supreme Court on Monday, April 29, the licences were suspended on April 15, citing Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1954. The suspension came after the Supreme Court's criticism of the SLA for not taking timely action against Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy over misleading advertisements.
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A criminal complaint has also been filed against Patanjali Ayurved, its Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna, co-founder Baba Ramdev, and Divya Pharmacy at the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Haridwar, under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954.
The suspended products are Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, Bp Grit, Madhugrit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold, and Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops. The SLA has directed Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy to stop manufacturing these products immediately and submit their original formulation sheets to the deputy director of the SLA.
Additionally, the SLA issued the following guidelines to all Ayurvedic/Unani medicine factories in Uttarakhand:
• Adhere to the Drug and Magic Remedies Act, 1954,
• Avoid claims like "Approved/Certified by the Ministry of AYUSH" on product labels,
• Ensure advertisements comply with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, and Emblems and Names Act, 1950,
• Follow labeling rules outlined in the Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1945,
• Advertisements should be broadcasted only after conducting tests to ensure compliance with the mentioned laws.
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The Indian Medical Association had filed the contempt petition against Patanjali Ayurved, Balkrishna, and Ramdev for publishing misleading medical advertisements, despite providing an undertaking to the Supreme Court that they would not do so. Apology affidavits have been filed by the respondents.
The Supreme Court, in its ongoing hearing on the case today, will consider the steps taken by the SLA and whether they comply with the court's earlier orders. On the last hearing date, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah stressed that the court's scrutiny was not limited to Patanjali but extended to all companies misleading the public with false health claims in their advertising.
