HC directs Centre, HP govt to set up efficient drug regulatory body

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh high court on Tuesday directed the Centre and the state government to set up an “efficient drug regulatory system” to regulate manufacturing, import and distribution of oxytocin.

The court also directed state to constitute special task forces in each district to ensure that no drug — either prohibited or regulated — is readily available in the open market, except it is bought within three months of prescription.

The division bench comprising chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the judgement on a suo moto petition on the use of oxytocin in vegetables. In the meeting of Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), it was acknowledged that there was rampant misuse of the drug for milking purposes which needed to be stopped.

The court observed that it could not be oblivious to the fact that there is large scale manufacturing and sale of drugs in a clandestine manner and that there is rampant misuse of oxytocin by farmers and dairy owners, which is a matter of concern.

“It requires surveillance and inter- state coordination. The violators must be dealt with strictly. It is not only the health of animals, but it is this very milk and vegetables which have been injected with oxytocin being consumed by all of us,” the bench said.