PANAJI
Following a nationwide ban imposed by the Union Health Ministry, the Goa Government on Thursday ordered a ban on the manufacturing and sale of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) nimesulide and its formulation for animal use, finding it likely to involve risk to animals.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a notice issued said that the prohibition has been imposed pursuant to the recommendation of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) for the reason that the use of drug formulations containing nimesulide is likely to involve risk to animals and safer alternatives to the said drugs are available.
FDA has directed all drug retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and Veterinary establishments to identify these drug formulations at their premises and then remove them from their shelves and return the stock to the suppliers.
“All the Registered Medical Practitioners who are engaged in the practice of Veterinary medicine are advised to ensure that no prescriptions are issued for this drug and all the retailers and wholesalers are advised to exercise extreme care and caution, not to dispense and distribute this banned drug for animal use,” FDA said.
In its advisory, the Ministry had said that the central government is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to prohibit all formulations of nimesulide for animal use.
The DTAB had requested the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to study the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) nimesulide on adult human beings.
