‘Ban cough syrup in plastic bottles’
New Delhi: A Government study has detected presence of toxic contaminants including lead in plastic bottles of cough syrups and other liquid medicines prompting an advisory body to suggest ban on use of such containers for liquid oral formulations.The issue came up when Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), which comes under the Health Ministry, was examining the issue of discontinuing the use of PET or plastic bottles, for packaging pharmaceutical preparations. According to the minutes of the 71st meeting DTAB a study was necessitated to understand the implications of the usage plastic bottles in packaging of pharmaceutical preparations and soft drinks. A six-member Plastic Hazard Committee (PHC) was formed to study leaching toxics after Director General Health Services (DGHS) and Chairman DTAB asked All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health (AIIH&PH) to conduct the study.
‘Upload replies to Parl questions on time’
New Delhi: The Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday directed all departments to upload replies to all Parliamentary questions on time and on proper format. The direction comes after the lok Sabha secretariat pointed out delay in uploading replies to the questions by central Government ministries.
New Delhi: Taking strong exception to police officers retaining personnel and official vehicles even after retirement, the Centre has directed them to surrender such privileges immediately and warned of action if they fail to do so.
Rs 350-crore projects okayed for tourism
New Delhi: Projects worth Rs 350 crore for developing infrastructure at heritage sites across the country with an aim to boost tourism have been approved recently by the Government, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday. Addressing a two-day conference on heritage cities, Naidu, however, pointed out that the heritage management has often been carried out in isolation with no linkages to urban planning process.
759 comments on Food safety report
New Delhi: A total of 759 comments were received from various stakeholders on the Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety report on environmental release of Genetically Engineered Mustard during the consultation period (till 5.30 PM on 05.10.2016). All the comments received by the GEAC Secretariat have been sent to the Sub-Committee for further examination. After evaluating all the comments, the Sub-Committee has been requested to submit their report to GEAC.
Swaraj meets kin of 39 Indian hostages
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Thursday met the families of 39 Indians taken hostage by ISIS in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq. This is the tenth time in the last two years EAM has met the families of hostages. She told the families that the Government is making continuous efforts to rescue these men and that these persons are still alive.