Punjab bans Coldrif Syrup after it fails quality test, found to contain toxic chemical (Image Credit: siasat.com)
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has imposed an immediate and complete ban on the sale, distribution, and use of Coldrif Syrup in the state after the medicine was found to be substandard and potentially fatal. The decision came after the Punjab Food and Drugs Administration (Drugs Wing) received a test report declaring the syrup “Not of Standard Quality” due to the presence of a toxic chemical, Diethylene Glycol, known for causing severe health hazards and deaths in the past.
According to an official order dated October 6, 2025, the government’s move follows a report by the Drugs Testing Laboratory, Madhya Pradesh, which detected 46.28 percent Diethylene Glycol (w/v) in the syrup. The drug, identified as Coldrif Syrup (Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup), was manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, located on Bangalore Highways, Sunguvarchatram in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram district. The batch in question—SR-13—was produced in May 2025 and had an expiry date of April 2027.
The laboratory’s findings revealed that the syrup formulation was adulterated and unsafe for human use. Diethylene Glycol, a toxic compound often misused as a cheap substitute for glycerin in some drug formulations, can lead to severe kidney and liver damage and even death when consumed. Alarmingly, the same formulation has been linked to the recent deaths of children in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, prompting urgent action from several state drug regulators.
In light of the seriousness of the matter, the Punjab Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has prohibited the sale, purchase, and utilization of the product across all retail outlets, hospitals, and healthcare institutions in the state. The department has directed all medical practitioners, chemists, and distributors not to stock or dispense the drug. Strict instructions have been issued to confiscate any available stock and to report immediately to the FDA if the syrup is found in circulation.
The Joint Commissioner (Drugs), Food and Drugs Administration, Punjab, in the official communication, stated that the decision was taken in the public interest to prevent possible health hazards. “All retailers, distributors, registered medical practitioners, hospitals, and health care institutions shall not purchase, sell, or utilize the said product. If any stock of the product is found in the state, information may be provided via email to drugscontrol.fda@punjab.gov.in,” the order read.
The state’s health authorities have also informed the offices of the Health and Family Welfare Minister, the Principal Secretary (Health), and the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, to ensure that the directive is widely circulated and implemented without delay. Instructions have been issued to extend the order to all hospitals and medical institutions in Punjab.
Officials said that the action was part of the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards substandard and adulterated drugs. They added that such incidents highlight the need for stronger surveillance, mandatory quality checks, and tighter coordination between states to prevent the circulation of unsafe medicines.
The Punjab government’s immediate response aims to ensure that no harmful drug reaches consumers. Public health experts have welcomed the ban, calling it a necessary and timely intervention to protect lives.
