The samples were found to be of standard quality, sources said.

New Delhi:

The health ministry found the samples of eye drops manufactured by Chennai-based Global Pharma Healthcare to be of “standard quality”, sources have said.

Earlier, the director of the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control PV Vijayalakshmi also said it found “no contamination” in samples of eye drops after the top medical watchdog in the US raised concerns over its use.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked the eyedrops to the likelihood of a highly drug-resistant bacteria gaining a foothold in the US.

Global Pharma Healthcare, located about 40 km south of Chennai, had stopped the production of the eye drops after the US Food and Drug Administration had raised a red flag over its use.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier said using contaminated artificial tears increases risk of eye infections that could result in blindness or death.

The Tamil Nadu drugs regulator had then found “no evidence of deviation” at the Chennai plant in February.