The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Action recommended against Biocon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Action recommended against Biocon

Staff Reporter

Company charged with importing product without permission

Licence obtained for making methyl cobalamin

But Biocon imported product from China

BANGALORE: The State Government has forwarded to the Drugs Controller of India a detailed report on the import of methyl cobalamin, a formulation used for treatment of neurological conditions, by Bangalore-based Biocon India Ltd., Health Minister R. Ashok informed the Legislative Council on Monday.

He was responding to M.P. Nadagouda (Janata Dal-U) and others who pointed out that the well-known biotechnology firm had obtained a licence for the manufacture of methyl cobalamin but had imported the product from abroad, in violation of rules. Mr. Ashok said that after verifying that such a violation had occurred, the Government forwarded the report to the Centre for further investigation and action.

Following complaints, the State Drugs Control Department visited the company's factory in Bangalore in January 2006 and found that Biocon had imported a consignment of methyl cobalamin from Auspure Biotech Co. in China, bypassing seven levels of the permission granting process.

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