A December 18th Reuters article noted the resolution of a U.S. probe regarding the child safety aspect of Dr. Reddy’s packaging. According to the court papers, Dr. Reddy’s sold prescription drugs in the United States without testing the packaging for child safety. The company disagreed with the allegations, but has agreed to pay the settlement to put the issue to rest.
The violation dates back to 2011 when The Justice Department alleged that five types of drugs manufactured by Dr. Reddy’s wouldn’t pass the United States’ tests to determine child resistance. The negligence was a violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act as the drugs were not sold in packaging designed to prevent accidental ingestion by children. In addition to the financial penalty, Dr. Reddy’s is required to maintain a program to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws and report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
