New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- India's drug regulator has told makers and suppliers of key cough syrup ingredients that no batch can leave the factory until it is registered and cleared online, according to two officials and a government document reviewed by Mint.

"...it shall be ensured that no batch of pharmaceutical grade of these solvents (propylene glycol, glycerine, sorbitol, etc.) should be distributed without uploading the required details sought on the DMS (digital monitoring system) and obtaining system-generated NOC (no objection certificate)," the directive said. State drug controllers have been told to make this a top priority, so every batch can be traced from the factory to the finished medicine.

The order from the Drugs Controller...