India recalls Rabies vaccine made by a Chinese firm

NEW DELHI: India has ordered an immediate withdrawal of rabies vaccines, manufactured by a Chinese company that allegedly fabricated records, from the market and has also banned its imports, a government official said on Wednesday.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has also issued a show cause notice to the Indian company, which imports the vaccine, seeking an explanation why it didn't inform the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) that the drugs production has already been stopped by China's drug controller.

The DCGI, in its show cause notice, has asked why the licence of the company which procures the medicine should not be cancelled as it has violated the law.

"We have ordered an immediate withdrawal of rabies vaccines manufactured by a Chinese firm for the time being till the investigation in the matter is completed. As per our inputs the China's Drug controller has issued an order to stop its manufacturing," he said.

"As per law, the importer should have informed us if there was any problem with the overseas supplier but he did not inform us," the official said.

According to the National Rabies Control Programme, Rabies kills an estimated 20,000 people in the country each year. Rabies is spread when an infected animal scratches or bites another animal or human. Globally, the disease is most commonly caused by dog bites.

The officials at CDSCO are compiling a detailed report on the import and distribution of the vaccine.