JAMMU, June 22 -- Authorities of J&K drugs and food control organisation on Saturday suspended drug sale licenses of nine erring pharma dealers. The authorities undertook a major drive to identify and take punitive action against unscrupulous elements dealing with such drugs in a clandestine manner. During the drive, it surfaced that some wholesale firms are indulging in procurement of certain pharmaceutical preparations, containing Pregabalin as an active ingredient, which is prone to addiction, directly from the suppliers based outside J&K through a clandestine manner, said an official spokesperson. Upon scrutiny of records of such firms, it was established that they have procured & distributed these medicinal preparations without maintaining the sales records properly as mandated under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules there under. "Therefore, punitive action was initiated against nine pharmaceutical dealers and their drug sale Licenses were suspended," he said. Stocks of pharmaceutical preparations which are prone to addiction worth over Rs.13,58 lakh have also been seized from the supply chain. State drugs controller, J&K Lotika Khajuria, has warned against such practices. "No person/firm shall indulge in procurement of lesser-known brands of drugs formulations consisting of habit forming ingredients directly from the suppliers, manufacturers located outside UT of J&K in a clandestine manner or through online platforms or through courier service providers/speed post etc," she warned.htc...