The Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent public alert for two cough syrup brands — Respifresh TR and Relife — after tests detected the presence of the toxic chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) beyond permissible limits.
In a “most urgent” directive to all senior drugs control officers (SDCOs) and drugs control officers (DCOs), Haryana State Drugs Controller Lalit Goel said that the warning follows official communications from the Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Both agencies reported that the formulations were found contaminated with DEG impurity.
The affected products include Respifresh TR (bromhexine hydrochloride, terbutaline sulphate, guaiphenesin, menthol syrup) manufactured by M/s Rednex Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, and Relife (ambroxol HCL, guaiphenesin, terbutaline sulphate, menthol syrup) manufactured by M/s Shape Pharma Pvt. Ltd., Surendranagar, Gujarat.
Authorities have declared both syrups adulterated and “not of standard quality.” All state officers have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance on the movement of these products, collect samples wherever available, and seize any remaining stock from retailers and distributors.
Officials said the move is a preventive measure to protect the public from exposure to potentially harmful cough syrups and to ensure the immediate withdrawal of adulterated products from the market.