Bengal Bans ‘Coldrif’ Cough Syrup : BCDA directs all retail and wholesale medicine sellers to halt the sale

MP, October 10, 2025, Kolkata: In the wake of several child deaths in Madhya Pradesh allegedly linked to the consumption of the cough syrup 'Coldrif,' the syrup has been banned in Bengal. The Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA) has directed all retail and wholesale medicine sellers in the state to immediately halt the sale and purchase of Coldrif syrup.

The BCDA also issued an advisory warning against stocking the cough syrup. As a precautionary measure, the state has taken steps to prevent any untoward incidents. While the batch connected to the Madhya Pradesh incident has not entered Bengal, the BCDA has decided to ban Coldrif as a safety measure.

A meeting with medicine retailers is scheduled for Saturday to reinforce the advisory already issued by the BCDA. Following the Madhya Pradesh deaths, concerns regarding the safety of over-the-counter cough syrups have been rising.

The manufacturer of Coldrif, a Tamil Nadu-based firm, has been arrested in connection with the deaths, which triggered panic in several states. Reports indicate that the syrup contains chemicals such as propylene glycol, glycerin, and sorbitol. In response, the West Bengal State Drug Control Board has directed that these ingredients be sourced only from approved vendors and tested in certified labs. Test reports are to be submitted to the board’s licensing authority.