CDSCO Tightens Vigil On Banned Antibiotics In Food Animals Amid Export Rejections

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has stepped up regulatory scrutiny over the continued misuse of banned antibiotics chloramphenicol and nitrofuran in food-producing animals, seeking detailed action reports from State and Union Territory drug controllers.

The move comes in the wake of alarming export rejections and persistent residue detection in Indian seafood consignments. Food animals are livestock, poultry and aquatic species raised or harvested for human consumption.

According to official communications, the drug regulator has asked States to furnish information on inspections conducted at veterinary drug outlets, enforcement actions taken against violators, and the overall mechanism being used to implement the March 2026 notification banning these drugs in animal-rearing systems.

The Union Health Ministry had, on March 12, 2026, prohibited the import, manufacture, sale and distribution of chloramphenicol and nitrofuran-class drugs for use in any food-producing animal system, citing “public health risk” and the availability of safer alternatives.

Despite the ban, data flagged by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) indicates continued detection of residues in shrimp export consignments. This has led to rejection rates as high as 43% in 2025 by markets such as the European Union, the United States and Japan. The affected supply chain has been traced to more than 40 farms, largely concentrated in Andhra Pradesh (74%), followed by Odisha (13%), West Bengal (8.7%) and Gujarat (4.3%).

In its January communication, MPEDA urged CDSCO to strengthen enforcement and clarify the ground-level implementation of the ban, including inspection frequency and punitive actions initiated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, has reiterated that enforcement must be strict and uniform across States. In an official directive, he stated:

“It is requested to ensure that the above-referred drugs and their formulations are sold only to licensed manufacturers and through licensed premises, only for the intended purpose, with proper reconciliation, and to take appropriate regulatory action in case of violations.”

He further instructed State regulators to sensitise enforcement teams and maintain close surveillance over the manufacture and distribution channels of these antibiotics.

“You are requested to sensitise your inspectorate staff to keep strict vigil on manufacture, sale and distribution … and to take necessary action under the provisions of the D&C Act & Rules,” the DCGI noted.

Officials said repeated reports of misuse in poultry and aquaculture systems have raised serious concerns, particularly given the implications for international trade and public health.

The decision to impose a complete ban follows recommendations from the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) and the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), which reviewed evidence of widespread misuse of these antibiotics as growth promoters and prophylactics in animal feed systems.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying had earlier conveyed its agreement to the proposal for a total ban, stating that continued use posed a “likely risk” to food safety and export integrity.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had also, in a 2018 notification, prohibited the use of nitrofurans and chloramphenicol in meat, poultry, eggs, seafood and related products, setting strict residue limits.

According to a scientist from the DCGI, chloramphenicol, though effective against bacterial infections, is associated with serious adverse effects, including bone marrow suppression. Nitrofurans, similarly, are banned in food animals due to concerns over carcinogenic residues.