The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered a search of all the offices and warehouses of online retailer Snapdeal, following complaints that the company was selling prescription drugs without proper licence.
Other online retail giants such as Flipkart and Amazon will also be reviewed for possible breach of law, said FDA commissioner Dr. Harshdeep Kamble.
Acting as normal customers, FDA officials ordered medicines which needed a doctor’s prescription and can be sold only by a licensed pharmacist, from Snapdeal. .
“The information published on the website was also verified and the company’s office in Mumbai was raided on Thursday,” Dr. Kamble told The Hindu . The two drugs that were available for online sale were Ascoril cough syrup and Vigora tablets.
The company has been asked to furnish details of persons involved, the medical stores, agreement with drug companies, payment details, challans, etc.
“We have asked the company to immediately remove the advertisement of the products from the website and stop the sale,” said Dr. Kamble, adding that the company has agreed to follow the orders.
As per Section 18 (c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 only a licensed retailer can offer these drugs for sale on the basis of a prescription.