Maharashtra FDA raids Snapdeal for selling prescription drugs online

Maharashtra's Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has raided the premises of e-commerce major Snapdeal.com for allegedly selling medicines, including prescription drugs. Meanwhile, the company has said it has delisted the drugs on its portal and is assisting the FDA in the investigation.

"...upon receiving the notice, we have delisted the products and provided all information to the FDA team. We shared the details of our fulfillment center as required by the FDA team. Upon their visit to the fulfillment center, they have not found any such product. We are assisting the FDA team in this investigation," a Snapdeal spokesperson said.

FDA Commissioner Harshadeep Kamble said, "A team of FDA officers yesterday raided the premises of Snapdeal in Mumai. A notice was issued to the company and it was asked to furnish details of the drugs offered for sale, distribution and exhibited for sale on their website Snapdeal.com." Kamble added, "We received information that various drugs, including prescription drugs, are being sold online through Snapdeal.com after which our team raided the premises of a related company."

As per the law, only a licensed retailer can sell drugs, and that too on the basis of prescription of doctor, he said, adding such type of online sale of drugs is not allowed such kind of self medication may be harmful to patients.

"Snapdeal certainly cannot act like a doctor or pharmacist, therefore we have ordered search of the offices of Snapdeal and also their godowns," Kamble added.

"In the same manner, I have also ordered FDA officials to visit the offices of other online retailers to find out whether such activities are being undertaken by them," he said.

The FDA had received specific information of actual receipt of a cough syrup and certain tablets, both prescription drugs, Kamble added. 

Snapdeal has been asked to furnish details of persons, the medical stores and companies involved and documents such as agreements, invoices, payment details, etc, Kamble said.

"They were also asked to delist the products from the website. Inspection report was prepared to that effect. The company agreed to delist the drugs," he said.