Curbs on oxytocin production and trade to check misuse
, ET Bureau|
Feb 21, 2018, 07.43 AM IST
The Modi government has decided to restrict the manufacture of oxytocin, known as the “cuddle hormone”, in the country and ban its import and export to stop the widespread misuse of the drug in the dairy industry.
The curbs are being introduced after attempts to regulate the supply of oxytocin failed. All private manufacturers— about 130 companies have the licence to make the hormone—will be “slowly phased out”, a top government official said.
Only a Bengaluru-based state-owned pharmaceutical company will manufacture the hormone in the quantity required for medical purposes, said another government official.
Oxytocin will be made available only to hospitals and sale of the hormone by private entities will be banned, the official said. To ensure there is no misuse, oxytocin will be supplied in barcoded packages.
Maneka Gandhi, minister for women and child development, had been pursuing a ban on the sale and manufacture of oxytocin. The ministry of health will shortly issue formal orders in this regard, government sources said.
The hormone released by the pituitary gland is responsible for human behaviour associated with relationships and bonding. It causes uterine contractions during labour and helps new mothers lactate.
However, the hormone is misused to increase the size of some vegetables.
In the dairy industry, livestock are often injected with the hormone to spur the release of milk. The drug in the milk can eventually reach humans and cause medical problems such as nausea, early puberty and foetal damage.
The drug booster has also been reportedly misused among trafficked children to accelerate puberty among girls.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation ordered drug controllers last year to crack down on the misuse of the controversial growth drug. “Several steps to regulate the supply of oxytocin have remained unsuccessful.
It was the need of the hour to ban the import and export of the hormone so that no further damage is caused,” said a senior government official on condition of anonymity
The curbs are being introduced after attempts to regulate the supply of oxytocin failed. All private manufacturers— about 130 companies have the licence to make the hormone—will be “slowly phased out”, a top government official said.
Only a Bengaluru-based state-owned pharmaceutical company will manufacture the hormone in the quantity required for medical purposes, said another government official.
Oxytocin will be made available only to hospitals and sale of the hormone by private entities will be banned, the official said. To ensure there is no misuse, oxytocin will be supplied in barcoded packages.
Maneka Gandhi, minister for women and child development, had been pursuing a ban on the sale and manufacture of oxytocin. The ministry of health will shortly issue formal orders in this regard, government sources said.
The hormone released by the pituitary gland is responsible for human behaviour associated with relationships and bonding. It causes uterine contractions during labour and helps new mothers lactate.
However, the hormone is misused to increase the size of some vegetables.
In the dairy industry, livestock are often injected with the hormone to spur the release of milk. The drug in the milk can eventually reach humans and cause medical problems such as nausea, early puberty and foetal damage.
The drug booster has also been reportedly misused among trafficked children to accelerate puberty among girls.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation ordered drug controllers last year to crack down on the misuse of the controversial growth drug. “Several steps to regulate the supply of oxytocin have remained unsuccessful.
It was the need of the hour to ban the import and export of the hormone so that no further damage is caused,” said a senior government official on condition of anonymity
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