Lucknow – In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural and veterinary sectors, authorities have uncovered a batch of fake and substandard deworming medicines supplied by the state’s Animal Husbandry Department. The drugs, intended for livestock health management, failed rigorous laboratory tests, prompting an immediate halt to their distribution and the initiation of blacklisting proceedings against the responsible supplier. This incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in the procurement process and raises concerns about the impact on farmers’ livelihoods.
The implicated medication is a combination of Fenbendazole IP 1000 mg and Niclosamide IP 1500 mg, commonly used to combat parasitic infections in animals. Sourced from a pharmaceutical firm located in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, the batch in question—identified as EMVB-24296—was distributed across multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh. However, following a series of complaints from district-level veterinary officers about the drug’s apparent lack of efficacy, surprise sampling was conducted by the drug controller’s office.
Tests performed at a certified laboratory in Agra revealed that the samples did not meet the prescribed quality standards, confirming them as substandard or counterfeit. In response, the Director of Disease Control and Field Operations in the Animal Husbandry Department issued urgent directives to all Chief Veterinary Officers. These instructions mandate an immediate cessation of use for the affected batch, with any undistributed or unused stock to be returned to the polyclinic superintendent in Lucknow for safe disposal or further analysis.
Deworming treatments are a critical component of livestock management in Uttar Pradesh, where agriculture and animal husbandry form the backbone of the rural economy. These medicines are typically administered twice a year to cattle, buffaloes, and other animals to prevent worm infestations that can lead to reduced growth, lower milk production, and overall health deterioration. Experts warn that the use of fake or ineffective drugs could exacerbate these issues, resulting in significant financial losses for farmers who rely on healthy livestock for income. “Substandard veterinary drugs not only compromise animal welfare but also threaten dairy output and the broader rural economy,” noted a veterinary expert familiar with the case.
This is not the first time procurement irregularities have plagued the department. Departmental records from the 2022–23 fiscal year show that another deworming agent, ivermectin, was purchased with a concentration of 2%—well above the approved range of 0.6–0.8%. Alarmingly, this was acquired at prices nearly 14 times higher than prevailing market rates, sparking questions about oversight and potential corruption in the supply chain.
In light of the current scandal, the Animal Husbandry Department has vowed to take stringent action. Blacklisting proceedings against the Himachal Pradesh-based supplier are already underway, and a comprehensive investigation into the procurement process has been launched. This probe aims to determine how the non-compliant drugs passed initial approvals and whether any departmental officials or external agencies were complicit. “We are committed to ensuring accountability and preventing such lapses in the future,” stated a department spokesperson.
To safeguard against similar incidents, authorities are exploring enhanced measures, including mandatory pre-procurement quality testing and third-party verification of suppliers. These steps are seen as essential to maintaining the integrity of veterinary supply chains, especially in a state like Uttar Pradesh, where millions of farmers depend on government-supported animal health programs.
The exposure of this fake drug batch, estimated to be worth crores, underscores the urgent need for transparency and robust quality controls in public procurement. As the investigation progresses, stakeholders in the animal husbandry sector are calling for swift reforms to protect livestock and support sustainable farming practices. Farmers and veterinary professionals across the state are now on high alert, monitoring their stocks closely amid this unfolding crisis.
