Parliament Question: Illegal Sale and Disposal of Expired Medicines

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4641 TOBE ANSWERED ON20TH MARCH, 2026 ILLEGALSALE AND DISPOSALOFEXPIREDMEDICINES 4641.SHRIJAI PRAKASH: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government has taken or proposes to take strict action to curb the illegal and dangerouspracticeof reselling expiredmedicines,which involvesalteringexpirydates andre - entering them into the supply chain after such illegal practice was brought to the fore, if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued new guidelines on the safe disposal of expired/unused drugs to ensure that they are not diverted backintothe market, if so, the detailsthereof; and (c) whether the Government has launched "Drug Take-Bank" programmes, where consumers can drop off expired medicine at designated locations and if so, the response of consumers in thisregard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL) (a): The manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs in the country is regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 thereunder through a system of licensing and inspection. Licenses for manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs are granted by the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) appointed by respective State Governments. Licensee is required to comply with all the conditions of license. One of the conditions of license states that no drug shall be sold or stocked by the licensee after the date of expiration of potency recorded on its container, label or wrapper, or in violation of any statement or direction recordedon such container,label or wrapper. SLAs are legallyempowered andtake stringent actions against violation of provisions of the Act andRulesincludingthe instancesof reselling the expiredmedicines.(b) & (c): Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) with the approval of Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has issued a guidance document on disposal of expired/unused drugs, available on website of CDSCO (www.cdsco.gov.in). The guidance providesinformationregarding variousmethodsfor disposal of expired/ unused medicines, procedure tobe followed for disposal of the expired/unused medicines by Retailers, Wholesalers, Manufactures, Government/ PrivateHospitals, Government Agencies, etc.anddisposal of expiredmedicine/unused medicineby generalpublic. Further, CDSCO vide letter dated 26.05.2025 has also requested all the States/ UT Drugs Controllers to encourage the concernedstakeholders in theirStates/ UTs toadopt these guidelinesfor safe disposal of expired/ unused drugs. *******