Gurgaon: Twenty-three types of veterinary medicines were seized from a pet shop in the city on Saturday. The medicines were being stocked and sold without a valid drug licence.The medicines were seized from Theo Pet Ventures, which operates under the brand name Ferpetual at Conscient One on Dwarka Expressway in Sector 109, during a Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspection following a complaint.Dr Suresh Kumar, drugs control officer, FDA Gurgaon-II, inspected the premises around 1pm. A salesperson, Devender, was present and told officials that Sanchit Taneja was the firm’s overall in-charge. Taneja joined the proceedings about an hour later, an official said.Officials asked Taneja to produce a valid drug licence authorising possession and sale of the medicines, or any document establishing lawful entitlement to possess them under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. FDA said he failed to produce either. The firm did produce three sale invoices and five purchase invoices relating to the medicines, which FDA said prima facie showed the firm had purchased and sold allopathic medicines without a valid drug licence.The medicines were sent to govt analyst for testing. FDA has not alleged that the seized medicines were fake, spurious or unsafe. The department said it would obtain custody orders from a court and initiate further legal action.A drug licence allows authorities to regulate businesses dealing in medicines and check how they are sourced, stored and sold. An unlicensed seller operates outside this regulatory system, making it harder for authorities to ensure medicines have come through authorised channels, have been stored properly, and that a clear party is accountable for their sale.“Strict action shall be taken against any person, firm or establishment found stocking, selling or distributing allopathic medicines without a valid drug licence,” Dr Kumar said. He added that pet-care businesses could not use dealing in veterinary food products as a cover for stocking or selling unauthorised medicines. “Selling or stocking allopathic medicines under the guise of dealing in veterinary food products will not be permitted,” he said.
