During the inspections, several types of violations were detected across the 42 medical shops. In many instances, veterinary prescription drugs were being sold without a valid prescription issued by a qualified veterinarian.
Published Jun 17, 2025 | 10:25 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 17, 2025 | 10:25 AM
Telangana DCA officials showing the drugs seized during the raid.
Synopsis: The Telangana Drugs Control Administration uncovered significant irregularities in the sale and stocking of veterinary medicines. The department issued show-cause notices to at least 42 establishments and initiated action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) launched a special drive across veterinary clinics and attached medical shops in the Hyderabad region on Sunday, 15 June, uncovering significant irregularities in the sale and stocking of veterinary medicines.
As many as 42 medical shops were found flouting norms, prompting the department to issue show-cause notices to initiate action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The inspections, held on 16 June, spanned multiple districts including Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Sangareddy. The drive specifically targeted veterinary and pet clinics, as well as medical shops operating in and around the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area.
“During the special raids, our officers detected several violations related to the sale of veterinary drugs,” said Shahnawaz Qasim, Director General of the DCA, in a statement.
“These included sales without valid prescriptions, absence of proper billing practices, and stocking of expired drugs,” he added.
During the inspections, several types of violations were detected across the 42 medical shops. In many instances, veterinary prescription drugs were being sold without a valid prescription issued by a qualified veterinarian. Officers also found that prescription medicines were being dispensed without the presence of a registered pharmacist, in clear violation of regulatory norms.
It was also noted that many shops were selling medicines without issuing proper bills to customers. Additionally, there was widespread non-maintenance of sales records, and in several cases, the medical shop owners failed to produce purchase bills for the veterinary drugs they were stocking.
Officials observed that mandatory registers for recording the sale of prescription or schedule drugs, as required under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, were either missing or not properly maintained. There were also irregularities in the maintenance of copies of sales and purchase bills.
In some cases, expired veterinary drugs were found stocked alongside saleable inventory, posing a significant risk to animal health. Moreover, veterinary medicines were often being stored together with human medicines, contrary to prescribed storage norms, raising concerns over cross-contamination and mishandling.
“These practices are in clear violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and compromise the safety, quality, and efficacy of veterinary drugs,” said the Director General. “We are taking stringent regulatory action against the violators.”
The DCA reiterated that veterinary medicines must be handled with the same seriousness as human medicines, especially in the context of growing global concern over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
“Overuse and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in food-producing animals — including cattle, poultry, and aquaculture — is a significant contributor to AMR,” said Qasim. “It is strongly advised that antibiotics should not be used for growth promotion in animals. Their use must be limited strictly to therapeutic needs and only under the professional supervision of a qualified veterinarian.”
The department appealed to all medical shops handling veterinary medicines to strictly adhere to regulatory provisions and ensure legal compliance in order to protect both animal and public health.
The DCA has also urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious or illegal activity related to the manufacture or sale of medicines — including narcotics and psychotropic substances — in residential, commercial, or industrial areas.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
