The Hindu Business Line : Diclofenac ‘not for veterinary use’

Mumbai, Aug. 22 Pain-drug Diclofenac used by humans will now have to explicitly carry the warning “Not for veterinary use”, the Centre has said, taking one more step towards saving the Asian vulture that sits on the brink of extinction.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has told State authorities to implement the ban on veterinary Diclofenac and label the human versions of the medicine to save the vulture population.

The Centre has not stopped with that. In a triple booster of sorts for vulture conservation over this year, the Centre has also imposed an anti-dumping duty on the import of bulk Diclofenac from China, in addition to officially banning the veterinary version of Diclofenac, and recommending a warning label on human Diclofenac, said Dr Nita Shah, Head of the Vulture Advocacy Programme at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

Veterinary Diclofenac was used as an anti-inflammatory drug in cattle, till experts pointed out to authorities at the Centre that vultures were dying after ingesting the residual drug in the carcasses.

Convinced of risk

In its latest communication, the Centre said that it was convinced that the use of veterinary Diclofenac did involve a risk to animals. Banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of Diclofenac and its formulations for animals, in public interest, the Centre said that there was a safer alternative available.

The production of veterinary Diclofenac can now be prosecuted as the DCGI has asked State authorities to implement the ban and the labeling, Dr Shah observed, commending the multi-ministry efforts on the drug.

Several Ministries, including that of Health, Chemicals and Fertilisers, Environment and Forests, Agriculture and Commerce, have been part of this multi-pronged approach to handle the crisis situation facing vultures.

Domestic market

The total domestic Diclofenac market (for human use) is estimated at about Rs 500 crore, and there are about 600 formulations of the medicine in the local market, said Dr Shah. Drug manufacturers’ associations too have been intimated by the regulator on the manufacture and labelling of the drug.

Related Stories:
As Diclofenac ban kicks in, Asian vultures can rest easy
Vulture decline: Pressure builds to ban Diclofenac

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