Regulatory status record
Is povidone-iodine banned in India?
Last checked 3 November 2026
Povidone-iodine on its own is not banned in India; the 2 Aug 2024 notification prohibited three combinations containing it: with metronidazole + aloe, with tinidazole + zinc sulphate, and with ornidazole + dexpanthenol.
- Classification
- No ban or recall found in official records
- Decided by
- CDSCO / Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Reference
- No Section 26A notification for povidone-iodine alone; S.O. 3308(E), 3332(E) and 3333(E), 2 Aug 2024
- Evidence
- Government document
- Latest action
- 2 August 2024
- Last checked
- 3 November 2026
Photo: Pills Medicine by Michal Jarmoluk (CC0). All photo credits.
Goa DFDA circular: 156 FDCs banned (copy of Gazette list)
Scope. A record here does not by itself mean a product or company is unsafe or banned today. Regulatory actions can apply to one batch, one formulation, one period or one state. Always check the linked government document for the current position, and tell us if something is out of date. How we label records.
Below: Blacklisted's explanationWe organise and explain what the document says. The document above is the authority.
Key facts
- Governing authority
- CDSCO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Povidone-iodine alone
- Not banned; not named in any Section 26A notification
- Banned 2 Aug 2024
- Povidone iodine + metronidazole + aloe, S.O. 3308(E); povidone iodine + tinidazole + zinc sulphate, S.O. 3332(E); povidone iodine + ornidazole + dexpanthenol, S.O. 3333(E)
- On sale
- Single-ingredient povidone-iodine ointments, such as 5% ointments, are listed by online pharmacies (1mg)
Where the claim comes from
The 2 Aug 2024 list of 156 banned FDCs included three products that pair povidone-iodine with an antibiotic and another ingredient. On news lists the entries read 'povidone iodine', so the common antiseptic was assumed to be banned.
Povidone-iodine, a broad-spectrum topical antiseptic, is not banned in India. No Section 26A notification names it on its own, and single-ingredient povidone-iodine ointments are listed by online pharmacies.
What was banned are three combination products. On 2 August 2024, in the notification that prohibited 156 fixed-dose combinations, the Health Ministry banned povidone iodine + metronidazole + aloe (S.O. 3308(E)), povidone iodine + tinidazole + zinc sulphate (S.O. 3332(E)) and povidone iodine + ornidazole + dexpanthenol (S.O. 3333(E)). Each adds an antibiotic of the nitroimidazole family and a third ingredient to the antiseptic. No stay of these entries has been reported.
If a tube or bottle lists only povidone-iodine, it is not affected. If it also lists metronidazole, tinidazole or ornidazole, check it against the three entries above.
What this means for you
Plain povidone-iodine is legal
Antiseptic solutions and ointments with povidone-iodine as the only active ingredient are unaffected.
Wound creams with antibiotics need a check
If a tube also lists metronidazole, tinidazole or ornidazole, compare it with the three banned combinations.
This is a record of official orders, not medical advice. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without asking your doctor or pharmacist.
Common questions
Why is povidone-iodine banned?
It is not. Only three combinations of povidone-iodine with metronidazole, tinidazole or ornidazole were banned on 2 Aug 2024.
Is povidone-iodine banned in India?
No. Single-ingredient povidone-iodine antiseptics are legal and on sale.
Entries on the banned drugs list
| Drug / combination | Action | Notification | Date | Status note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Povidone Iodine + Metronidazole + Aloe | Banned | S.O. 3308(E) | 2 August 2024 | Prohibited under s.26A; notifications dated 02.08.2024, gazetted 21-22 Aug 2024. |
| Povidone Iodine + Tinidazole + Zinc Sulphate | Banned | S.O. 3332(E) | 2 August 2024 | Prohibited under s.26A; notifications dated 02.08.2024, gazetted 21-22 Aug 2024. |
| Povidone Iodine + Ornidazole + Dexpanthenol | Banned | S.O. 3333(E) | 2 August 2024 | Prohibited under s.26A; notifications dated 02.08.2024, gazetted 21-22 Aug 2024. |
Ingredient records
Every banned combination and failed batch containing each ingredient.
Batches declared Not of Standard Quality
Batches of products containing Povidone-iodine flagged in CDSCO monthly alerts. An NSQ result concerns one batch, not the molecule or the brand.
| Product | Batch | Manufacturer | Reason declared NSQ | Tested by | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sucralfate & Povidone-Iodine Ointment | Batch 0F5008AMfg Jun 2025 · Exp May 2027 | Navkar LifesciencesHimachal Pradesh | Assay for Available IodineAssay | DTL, Bengaluru, KarnatakaState lab | Sep 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Solution IP 5% w/v | Batch 35Mfg Aug 2025 · Exp Jul 2027 | Daxin Pharmaceuticals Pvt. LtdHimachal Pradesh | Assay for Available-IodineAssay | DTL, Bengaluru, KarnatakaState lab | Sep 2026 |
| Metronidazole and Povidone Iodine Ointment | Batch XOJM25015Mfg Jul 2025 · Exp Jun 2027 | Helios Pharmaceuticals (Div. of P.K.T.P. Pvt LtdHimachal Pradesh | The sample does not conform to Label claim with respect to the content of Availabe Iodine in Povidone Iodine(79.59%)Labelling | Drugs Testing Laboratory, Madurai-19State lab | Jul 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Ointment USP 5% w/w | Batch EP25081ALMfg Oct 2025 · Exp Sep 2027 | Hindustan Laboratories LimitedMaharashtra | The sample does not conform to claim as per USP 2025 in respect to the Assay of Povidone-Iodine as Available IodineAssay | RDTL, ChandigarhCDSCO lab | Jun 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine & Metronidazole Ointment | Batch 25343AMfg Aug 2025 · Exp Jul 2027 | Athens Life SciencesHimachal Pradesh | ContentOther | DTL, Madurai-19State lab | Jun 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Solution IP (10%) | Batch RSPI25091BMfg Sep 2025 · Exp Aug 2027 | Rsons Medikits India 5-5-35/275/2Telangana | Assay for available Iodine does not complies as per IP 2022 monograph.Assay | State Lab, DCL, TelanganaState lab | Apr 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Solution | Batch HEPO24007Mfg Jul 2024 · Exp Jun 2026 | Health Biotech Ltd SandoliHimachal Pradesh | Assay of available IodineAssay | DTL, BaddiState lab | Mar 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Cleansing Solution USP 7.5% w/v | Batch DIT24008Mfg Sep 2024 · Exp Aug 2026 | Divtatv Wellness Pvt.Ltd | ContentOther | DTL,ChennaiState lab | Mar 2026 |
| Povidone Iodine & Ornidazole Ointment | Batch MOE-140CMfg Aug 2025 · Exp Jul 2027 | Mefro Organic Ltd | ContentOther | DTL,ChennaiState lab | Mar 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Ointment USP | Batch OG5019AMfg Jul 2025 · Exp Jun 2027 | Navkar LifesciencesHimachal Pradesh | ContentOther | Drugs Testing Laboratory, Chennai-06State lab | Jan 2026 |
| Povidone Iodine Solution IP | Batch GMW0121Mfg Sep 2024 · Exp Aug 2026 | Microwin Labs PVt LtdPunjab | sample does not meets the Specifications wrt. Assay of Available lodine as per IP. 2022.Assay | DCL, TelanganaState lab | Jan 2026 |
| Povidone-Iodine Solution IP 10%w/v | Batch 121Mfg Jul 2024 · Exp Jun 2026 | Algen Healthcare Ltd 134/2Himachal Pradesh | The sample does not comply as per I.P. 2022 with respect to the test for pH of Povidone-Iodine Solution.pH | RDTL, GuwahatiCDSCO lab | Nov 2025 |
| (Povidone Iodine Ointment USP 5% W/W) | Batch ADE25105Mfg Jan 2025 · Exp Dec 2026 | Astonea Labs Pvt. LtdHaryana | Assay for Available IodineAssay | DTL, Bengaluru, KarnatakaState lab | Nov 2025 |
| Povidone Iodine Solution IP | Batch 2503003Mfg Mar 2025 · Exp Feb 2027 | Biodeal Pharmaceuticals Pvt. LtdHimachal Pradesh | Sample fails the test AssayAssay | RDTL, Ernakulam, KeralaState lab | Oct 2025 |
| Povidone Iodine & Metronidazole Solution (IU Liquid) | Batch GLO-002Mfg Apr 2025 · Exp Mar 2027 | Gentech Healthcare Pvt Ltd | The sample does not conform to the IP with respect to Assay.Assay | DTL, JaipurState lab | Oct 2025 |
Sources
Government documents
- CDSCO: List of prohibited FDC drugs, 156 FDCs dated 02.08.2024RegulatorCDSCO · 2 August 2024
- Goa DFDA circular: 156 FDCs banned (copy of Gazette list)RegulatorDirectorate of Food and Drugs Administration, Goa · 22 August 2024
Other sources
- Povidone Iodine generic pageOtherTata 1mg · 3 November 2026