Maldives Food and Drug Authority MFDA has banned the import, use, and sale of 'Alergo Oral Liquid' (Cetrizine) after more batches of the medicine were found to be contaminated.
This comes after the World Health Organization WHO alerted its member countries saying that large batches of liquid cold medicine in production since last October from several countries have been contaminated by chemicals diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG).
WHO stated that these contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines.
MFDA had conducted random samplings of cold medicine to test for these contaminants and alerted the country about 'Alergo' last Tuesday.
The Authority said that an MFDA random market sampling revealed that the medicine had been contaminated with DEG and EG. The medicine is manufactured by Pharmix Laboratories of Pakistan. It banned the sale and use of the medicine that day until it conducted further tests.
Today, MFDA revealed that the contaminants have been found in additional batches of the medicine and banned its import, sale, and use in the Maldives.
MFDA cautioned the public to remain vigilant of the ban. It also urged importers to follow the protocols when discarding the medicine.
Last week, MFDA banned the use of Calpol, Paracetamol for children because of a quality issue.
