The Health Ministry has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of antibiotic, Colistin and its formulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements in a bid to preserve the drug’s efficacy in humans.
The ban has been imposed under provisions of the Drugs andCosmetics Act, 1940 and a notification in this regard has been issued by theCentre.
According to the notification, it was brought to the noticeof the Central government that the use of the drug Colistin and itsformulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feedsupplements is likely to involve risk to human beings.
Following which the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB),the government’s top advisory body on technical matters related to drugs in thecountry considered the matter and recommended prohibiting the said drug, thenotification stated.
“The Central Government is satisfied that it isnecessary and expedient in public interest to prohibit manufacture, sale anddistribution of the drug Colistin and its formulations for food producinganimals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred bysection 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 the government herebyprohibits manufacture, sale and distribution of the following drug withimmediate effect, Colistin and its formulations for food producing animals,poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements,” the notification read.
The ministry also directed that manufacturer of the drug andits formulations shall label the container of the drug and mention the words”not to be used in food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animalfeed supplements ” in conspicuous manner on the package insert and promotionalliterature of the said drug and its formulations.
According to a ministry official, the antibiotic is beingused as a last resort for treatment of patients suffering from infectionscaused by drug-resistant bacteria.”Colistin is an antibiotic for therapeuticpurpose in veterinary. But the drug is highly misused in poultry industry as agrowth promoter for prophylactic purpose.One of the reason for antibioticresistance in India is due to unwanted use of Colistin in poultry industry.This notification will prevent use of the drug for prophylactic use,” theofficial said.