New Delhi, Feb. 13 -- In the battle against fake drugs, chemists and wholesalers have always been spared the whip. May be not for long.

India's apex drug regulator is working on stringent rules that would hold retailers and wholesalers accountable for selling or storing spurious drugs, even if they hold valid purchase invoices, two officials aware of the matter said. Currently, under Section 19 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, only manufacturers are prosecuted, while others remain exempt.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has set up a committee to explore ways to tighten enforcement, aiming to plug regulatory loopholes that allow counterfeit medicines to enter the market unchecked. The move comes at a time whe...