New Delhi, March 20 -- India's standards watchdog for drug manufacturing will start random checks of small drug companies' plants by the end of this year, according to two officials aware of the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), headed by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), will do the checks to review the compliance status of MSME drug firms' good manufacturing practices (GMP), the people added.

"Right now, DCGI is still getting applications as the deadline is open," the first official said. "Only after the deadline, the government will conduct random checks at these MSME drug makers to verify whether they are meeting GMP requirement or not. Strict actions inc...