Justifying state FDA's order directing closure of the J&J's Mulund facility for not checking some batches of talcum powder for ethylene oxide residue in 2007, FDA lawyer Ashutosh Kumbakoni said, "Multinationals should stop treating Indians like guinea pigs. If the same incident had happened in the US, the company would have faced worse (consequences)."
The division bench of Justices S J Vazifdar and M S Sonak was hearing a petition filed by J&J challenging FDA's order directing closure of suburban Mulund factory from June 24. The company has also sought a permission to reopen its factory as an interim relief.
FDA alleged that the company had not registered this process with it, and failed to conduct tests to check for traces of ethylene oxide in these batches of powder.
The company challenged the order before appellate authority, but the order was upheld, so it moved HC.
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Senior counsel Rafiq Dada, appearing for the company, today sought interim relief and said the company was not using ethylene oxide treatment process anymore.
The hearing would continue on July 29.