The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of ketoprofen and aceclofenac and their formulations for animal use under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 40) in a notification dated July 31, 2023.
Key points
- These are two of three “vulture-toxic” drugs that conservationists have been seeking a ban on. The third drug is nimesulide.
- There are in total six non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs toxic to vultures. The ban on usage of diclofenac in 2006, then in 2013 and now this one has a huge gap.
- Conservationists are applauding the Union Health Ministry’s move to stop the veterinary use of painkiller aceclofenac and ketoprofen and its formulations, with immediate effect.
- About 16 years ago, India had banned the veterinary use of diclofenac, as it was found to be toxic for vultures.
- Conservationists had approached the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the other three drugs as well, to take it up with the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). A public interest litigation was also filed on the issue in the Delhi High Court.
- Conservationists point to meloxicam and tolfenamic acid as safe alternatives.
- Aceclofenac metobalises into diclofenac in the body of large animals, and vultures feed on their carcass. While there are safe alternatives in the market for animals, h more research is being undertaken to establish safer alternatives and establish nimesulide’s toxicity as well.
- According to a recently published study by IVRI and collaborators had said that aceclofenac metabolised into diclofenac in water buffaloes, as it did in cows, threatening the already critically endangered Gyps vultures in South Asia.
- They had recommended the immediate ban on the veterinary use of aceclofenac across vulture range countries.
(Sources: BL and DTE)
