More than 44,000 chemists and druggists across Maharashtra will go on a two-day strike on January 11 and 12 to protest the 'draconian' measure by the Food and Drug Administration, which proposed withdrawal of licences in case of any violation.
"We will be protesting against the FDA's circular which proposes arbitrary action of withdrawal of licences against any chemist or druggist who is thought to have violated the law," Jagannath Shinde, president of Maharashtra Association of Chemists and Druggists, said.
Alleging that the FDA had drawn up a 'draconian' law, he said, "The entire chemist trade runs on the basis of the law, and there are provisions given to deal with any violation. How can the FDA decide the punishment for any crime without going into details first?"
"We will close down all chemist shops in the state in protest. We have already given a representation to the government. If they still do not heed to our demand, we will then decide the next course of action," he added.
The FDA, meanwhile, seems determined to enforce the new regulation.
According to the new rules, FDA authorities can levy huge penalties, including cancellation of licences, even for minor breaches, like improper name board or failure to keep a record of prescribing doctors.
