The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the manufacturing licence of Dior Pharmaceuticals’ nutraceutical manufacturing facility in Punjab after a regulatory inspection uncovered serious lapses in food safety, hygiene and manufacturing standards. The company has been directed to immediately stop all manufacturing activities until the identified deficiencies are fully rectified and verified by the competent authority through a fresh inspection.
The regulatory action comes as part of FSSAI’s intensified enforcement campaign aimed at strengthening compliance across India’s food and nutraceutical manufacturing sector. In recent months, the food regulator has stepped up inspections of manufacturing facilities, restaurants and food businesses to ensure adherence to statutory food safety norms under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Inspection Revealed Critical Compliance Failures
According to FSSAI, inspectors found major and critical non-conformities across multiple operational areas at the Punjab-based facility. The inspection reportedly identified significant shortcomings in the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), three pillars considered essential for ensuring the safety and quality of nutraceutical products intended for human consumption.
Officials observed that the manufacturing premises were inadequately maintained and failed to meet the hygiene and operational standards prescribed under India’s food safety regulations. The deficiencies were considered serious enough to warrant immediate suspension of the manufacturing licence.
Multiple Deficiencies Found During Inspection
The inspection highlighted a wide range of operational failures that raised concerns over product safety and traceability. Among the deficiencies reported by the regulator were:
- Poor maintenance of manufacturing infrastructure.
- Inadequate sanitation and housekeeping.
- Ineffective pest control mechanisms.
- Improper storage and handling of raw materials and finished products.
- Weak process controls during manufacturing.
- Poor personnel hygiene practices.
- Inadequate monitoring of water quality.
- Deficient documentation and record-keeping systems.
FSSAI stated that these shortcomings collectively indicated a systemic failure to maintain the safety, quality and traceability of food products manufactured at the facility, increasing potential risks for consumers.
Public Health Concerns Prompt Immediate Action
The food regulator noted that the violations posed a significant public health risk, particularly because nutraceutical products are consumed directly by people seeking health benefits. Authorities observed that the absence of effective food safety controls and poor maintenance of the manufacturing environment amounted to gross non-compliance with statutory food safety requirements.
As a result, FSSAI ordered the immediate suspension of the company’s food business licence and instructed the food business operator to cease all manufacturing operations with immediate effect. Production can resume only after corrective measures are implemented and verified during a follow-up inspection conducted by the competent authority.
Part of FSSAI’s Nationwide Enforcement Drive
The action against Dior Pharmaceuticals reflects FSSAI’s broader strategy to tighten regulatory oversight of India’s rapidly expanding nutraceutical industry. The regulator has increasingly focused on ensuring that manufacturers comply with prescribed hygiene standards, quality control measures and food safety management systems.
Industry experts note that India’s nutraceutical market has witnessed strong growth in recent years, driven by increasing consumer demand for dietary supplements, vitamins and health products. With the sector expanding rapidly, regulators have also intensified scrutiny to ensure manufacturers maintain internationally accepted production standards and protect consumer health.
Regulatory experts believe stricter inspections and enforcement actions are likely to continue as FSSAI works to improve compliance across the food and health supplement manufacturing ecosystem. Companies failing to meet mandatory standards could face licence suspension, legal proceedings or other enforcement measures under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
For Dior Pharmaceuticals, operations at the Punjab nutraceutical unit will remain suspended until the regulator is satisfied that all deficiencies have been addressed and the facility complies fully with applicable food safety regulations.
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