Import of growth drug oxytocin may be banned to curb misuse

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to ban the import of controversial growth drug oxytocin in a bid to curb its misuse by dairy owners and farmers who use it to boost milk production and increase size of vegetables.

The government’s top drug advisory board—the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)— in a meeting on February 12 recommended various measures to check widespread misuse of the hormone boosting drug.

Oxytocin is a controversial hormonal injection that is used widely in the dairy industry, agriculture and horticulture.

Authorities are also concerned that the misuse of this growth booster is reported among trafficked children, injected to accelerate puberty among girls.

“The members of DTAB agreed to prohibit the import of oxytocin and its formulations for human use as well as animal use under section 10 of the drugs and cosmetics act 1940,” according to the minutes of the DTAB meeting, reviewed by

Oxytocin is a uterine stimulant hormone, prescribed for the initiation of uterine contractions and induction of labour in women and stimulation of contractions during labour. It is also used to help abort the foetus in cases of incomplete abortion or miscarriage, and control bleeding. Anytime when people think that the end goal of entrepreneurship is to raise capital, I think they are completely mistaken.

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