Lucknow, Nov. 29 -- UP Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has ordered the immediate cancellation of licences for drug outlets that are either non-existent, lack medicine stock, or fail to maintain mandatory sales and purchase records. The move comes as part of a crackdown targeting the illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrups and other NDPS-category medicines. These medicines, classified under Schedule H-2 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, can only be sold against a valid prescription and must be documented in a register. Principal secretary Roshan Jacob has directed all drug inspectors under the supervision of district magistrates to launch special inspections of both wholesale and retail drug licensees. FSDA has clarified that no drug licences will be issued to establishments operating from purely residential buildings. Further directives include inspections of registered pharmacists for wholesale licences and mandatory verification of experience certificates submitted by applicants. These measures aim to eliminate shell pharmacies and curb the practice of operating drug outlets on paper while diverting sensitive medicines illegally....