Over-the-counter sale of cough syrup barred

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Medicinal syrups, including those used to treat coughs, can no longer be bought without a doctor’s prescription, according to a government notification issued on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) This means that over-the-counter sales of these syrups will no longer be allowed.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the change to the Drugs Rules, 1945, which laid out the regulations pertaining to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

This comes after multiple fatalities caused by cough syrups adulterated with industrial solvents, including the deaths of at least 24 children in Madhya Pradesh last September. Cough syrups exported from India have also been linked to the deaths of more than 140 children in Africa and Central Asia since 2022.

Cough lozenges still available

Tuesday’s notification directed that the word ‘syrups’ be removed from the list of items that had been exempted from the provisions of the Act. The rules had earlier specified that ‘Syrups, lozenges, pills and tablets for cough’ would be exempted, meaning that cough lozenges, pills, and tablets will still be available over the counter.

The amendment follows a draft notification issued in December 2025 to which the government invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public. The government said all comments received on the draft rules were considered before the final notification was issued.

Published - June 16, 2026 11:57 am IST