Life imprisonment for involvement in circulation of spurious drugs: Azad

New Delhi, Aug. 7 (ANI): In order to stamp out circulation of spurious drugs in the country, the Government on Friday said that any kind of involvement in circulation of spurious drugs could now attract a life imprisonment.

"Short of capital punishment, everything that is possible under the law will be done to stamp out the circulation of spurious drugs. I have signed the papers yesterday. The new law will be notified within a week," Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour.

"So far, the law was very mild. No action could be taken against those who were caught. Now there will be special courts to fast track trials. Up to life imprisonment can be awarded to those who manufacture and sell spurious drugs," he added.

Azad further said that a Central Drug Authority (CDA) would also be created to banish drug peddlers and manufacturers of spurious drugs.

"We are holding a series of meetings with the pharmaceutical industry. The creation of the CDA will be the second step," Azad said. (ANI)