Ingredient record · Antibiotic, often in eye and ear drops
Chloramphenicol: bans, restrictions and failed batches in India
Last checked 20 September 2026. Sources: CDSCO banned-drugs notifications and monthly NSQ alerts, Jan 2019 to Jul 2026
10 entries containing Chloramphenicol are on India's banned-drugs list, and 6 are banned today. 6 batches of medicines containing Chloramphenicol failed a government lab test between May 2019 and July 2025, from 5 manufacturers. A failed batch concerns that batch only, not the medicine or every brand.
6
Banned combinations in force
4
Other listed orders (stayed, restricted, quashed)
6
Batches failed a lab test
Jul 2025
Latest lab alert
On the banned-drugs list
Chloramphenicol on its own is not on CDSCO's banned list. The entries below are specific combinations that contain it. Status follows CDSCO's own notes on each entry.
| Drug / combination | Action | Notification | Date | Order | Status note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloramphenicol + Beclomethasone + Clotrimazole + LignocaineFixed-dose combination · skin | Banned | S.O. 4488(E) | 7 September 2018 | 328 FDCs · Sep 2018 | In force per CDSCO list as on 22.11.2021 |
| Chloramphenicol + Ofloxacin + Lignocaine + Glycerine and Propylene GlycolFixed-dose combination · skin | Banned | S.O. 4489(E) | 7 September 2018 | 328 FDCs · Sep 2018 | In force per CDSCO list as on 22.11.2021 |
| Chloramphenicol + Lignocaine + Betamethasone + Clotrimazole + Ofloxacin + AntipyrineFixed-dose combination · skin | Banned | S.O. 4490(E) | 7 September 2018 | 328 FDCs · Sep 2018 | In force per CDSCO list as on 22.11.2021 |
| Beclomethasone + Clotrimazole + Chloramphenicol + Gentamicin + Lignocaine Ear DropsFixed-dose combination · skin | Banned | S.O. 4494(E) | 7 September 2018 | 328 FDCs · Sep 2018 | In force per CDSCO list as on 22.11.2021 |
| Gentamicin + Dexamethasone + Chloramphenicol + Tobramycin + OfloxacinFixed-dose combination · antibiotics | Banned | S.O. 4521(E) | 7 September 2018 | 328 FDCs · Sep 2018 | In force per CDSCO list as on 22.11.2021 |
| Chloramphenicol + Beclomethasone + Clomitrimazole + LignocaineFixed-dose combination · skin | Quashed | S.O. 825(E) | 10 March 2016 | 344 FDCs · Mar 2016 | Quashed by Delhi HC 1 Dec 2016; see 2018 re-ban |
| Chloramphenicol + Lignocaine + Betamethasone + Clotrimazole + Ofloxacin + AntipyrineFixed-dose combination · skin | Quashed | S.O. 827(E) | 10 March 2016 | 344 FDCs · Mar 2016 | Quashed by Delhi HC 1 Dec 2016; see 2018 re-ban |
| Becloemthasone + Clotrimazole + Chloramphenicol + Gentamicin + Lignocaine Ear DropsFixed-dose combination · antibiotics | Quashed | S.O. 831(E) | 10 March 2016 | 344 FDCs · Mar 2016 | Quashed by Delhi HC 1 Dec 2016; see 2018 re-ban |
| Gentamicin + Dexamethasone + Chloramphenicol + Tobramycin + OfloxacinFixed-dose combination · antibiotics | Quashed | S.O. 858(E) | 10 March 2016 | 344 FDCs · Mar 2016 | Quashed by Delhi HC 1 Dec 2016; see 2018 re-ban |
| Chloramphenicol with any other Drug for Internal UseFixed-dose combination · antibiotics | Banned | GSR 1057(E) | 3 November 1988 | Classic bans | Entry text as substituted vide GSR 1057(E) dated 1988-11-03; original 1983/1988 notification superseded. |
Products that failed lab tests
Product names as printed by the testing labs, grouped. Open a product to see every batch number.
| Product | Batches | Makers | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloramphenicol | 2 | 2 | Apr 2020 |
| Deco | 1 | 1 | Jul 2025 |
| Chlorcin | 1 | 1 | Jun 2021 |
| Ocupol Dx | 1 | 1 | Jun 2020 |
| Chloramphenicol Dexamethasone Sodium | 1 | 1 | May 2019 |
Most recent failed batches
| Product | Batch | Manufacturer | Reason declared NSQ | Tested by | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deco (Chloramphenicol & Betamethasone Sodium Sodium Phosphate eye/ear Drops) | NDCO-019Mfg 2023-10 · Exp 2025-09 | Laborate Pharmaceuticals India LtdHimachal Pradesh | The Sample dose not conforms to claim as per Patent & Proprietary in respect to assay of Chloramphenicol.Assay | Drug Testing Laboratory Baddi, Himanchal PradeshState lab | Jul 2025 |
| CHLORCIN-500 (Chloramphenicol Capsules I.P. 500 mg) | OC-1809006Mfg 2018-09 · Exp 2021-08 | Oshin Laboratories Pvt. LtdHaryana | DissolutionDissolution | RDTL GuwahatiState lab | Jun 2021 |
| Ocupol Dx. (Polymyxin B Sulphate, Chloramphenicol & Dexamethasone Eye/Ear Drops) | CB013Mfg 2019-07 · Exp 2020-12 | Centaur Pharmaceuticals Pvt. LtdGoa | Assay of ChloramphenicolAssay | CDL KolkataCDSCO lab | Jun 2020 |
| Chloramphenicol Capsules I.P. (LABCHLOR 500) | JLGC-003Mfg 2019-05 · Exp 2021-04 | Laborate Pharmaceuticals India LtdHimachal Pradesh | DissolutionDissolution | RDTL GuwahatiState lab | Apr 2020 |
| Chloramphenicol Capsules I.P. 250 mg. (Starphenicol 250) | JK18002Mfg 2019-03 · Exp 2020-02 | Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Indst. Growth CentreJammu & Kashmir | DissolutionDissolution | RDTL GuwahatiState lab | Sep 2019 |
| Chloramphenicol and Dexamethasone Sodium Eye Drops (POLYMICIN EYE DROPS) | POLY-07Mfg 2018-07 · Exp 2020-06 | VADSP PharmaceuticalsHimachal Pradesh | Assay of Chloramphenicol, and Dexamethasone Sodium PhosphateAssay | RDTL ChandigarhCDSCO lab | May 2019 |
Holding a strip or bottle? The batch number is printed after "B. No." Check it against every alert. If it matches, return it to the pharmacy. What the labels mean: status guide.