Bangladesh Court orders 34 drug firms to halt production, again

The court issued the order earlier today, explaining that it was prompted by a petition submitted by pressure group Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh. 

The 34 manufacturers - which make antibiotic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and or finished drug products - were originally ordered to cease production on June 7​. 

At the time Bangladesh regulator – the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) – said it had identified breaches of World Health Organisation (WHO) current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) during facility inspections conducted earlier in the year.

Under the original order, 11 of the firms were told to cease manufacturing, had their manufacturing licenses cancelled and were told to recall products.

The remainder of the companies were ordered to halt production and recall their products

Petition​

However, according to a petition – no 6969/2016 - submitted by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh on July 28, products made by the manufacturers can still be found on pharmacy shelves across the country.

The High Court accepted​ the petition and gave the companies involved until August 18 to cease production.