CDSCO directs to mark Doping Drug Labels with either vertical Orange line or line of any other colour: Report

In this regard, CDSCO has directed the pharma stakeholders to submit their suggestions on doping drug (performance-enhancing drugs) labels. It has also stressed that the suggestions should be made after taking visually impaired persons into consideration and should be user friendly.

The concern was discussed on a virtual meeting held on June 23, 2020, at the CDSCO office, chaired by A K Pardhan, DDC (I) and attended by key industry stakeholders.

During the meeting, Pradhan informed that the CDSCO office has received representations from general public and Prime Minister Office Grievance cell seeking formulation of guidelines for labelling of performance-enhancing drugs (doping drugs).

These medicines are scheduled formulations and are prescribed for certain conditions under the supervision of registered medical practitioners and are supposed to be given in the right dosages. However, it has been noticed that these medicines are being consumed by athletes, gym-going people etc., without any prescriptions.

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CDSCO also stated that the list of doping drugs which are banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) should be made available to the public, teachers, parents, students, sportspersons, doctors etc. for their knowledge.

He also recommended that the labels of all such drugs should be marked with either a vertical "Orange" line or a line of any other colour line for easy and convenient identification and to ensure that these drugs are not used without medical supervision/advice.

The matter will be placed before the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and they will prepare draft guidelines. The doping drug list may be put in the public domain for the knowledge of the public as well as for medical professionals, etc. and an awareness campaign may be undertaken to avoid misuse of such drugs, reports Express Pharma.