Delhi HC stays ban on sale and manufacture of Oxytocin till October

The Delhi High Court today stayed Central Government’s decision to ban the sale and manufacture of oxytocin, a peptide hormone, by private companies, till October 1..“We are of the prima facie opinion that the domestic ban/complete prohibition on the sale and manufacturing of oxytocin should be suspended for one month. Parties may in the meantime complete their submissions. List for further arguments.”, the Court said..A Division Bench comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla passed the order as an interim measure in plea by private oxytocin manufacturers /sellers, BGP Products Operations GmbH and Neon Laboratories, and NGO All India Drug Action Network..The Central Government notification, dated April 27, 2018, prohibiting the sale, distribution, manufacturing and import of oxytocin was slated to come into effect from September 1, 2018..The said notification had vested state-run Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. with the monopoly to manufacture and sell oxytocin..It is the Petitioners’ claim that the Centre’s decision to absolutely prohibit the sale, manufacture, distribution, as well as import of oxytocin, was arbitrary and unreasonable..Additional Solicitor General Maninder Kaur Acharya defended Centre’s move by citing the need to control and prevent the “rampant abuse” of oxytocin. She informed the Court that the decision came after a series of deliberations by officials at the highest level..She also assured the Court that there would be no ill-effect of the ban on the market due to scarcity as Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd was fully capable to meet the market’s demand..Oxytocin, which is naturally produced by females, is administered artificially to induce labour pain, control bleeding after childbirth or help new mothers lactate..One of the prominent misuses of oxytocin is in the dairy sector to enhance lactation of livestock..Senior Advocate Jayant Bhushan appeared for the oxytocin manufacturers..All India Drug Action Network was represented by Senior Advocate Colvin Gonsalves. .Mylan Laboratories’ subsidiary BGP Products Operations GmbH was represented by law firm L&L Partners..The matter would be next heard on September 12.