Department of Drug Administration, the government body that regulates medicines and pharmaceutical products, has ordered to stop the distribution and recall two batches of vitamin supplements produced by Nepali companies from the market.

Issuing a notice on Sunday, the department said it found the supplements to be of sub-standard quality.

The administration department instructed the manufacturers to recall batch no ‘BD2104’ of ‘BIOCAL-D’ produced by the Rupandehi-based Biogain Remedies and batch no ‘AS2121’ of ‘Asvit’ by the Kathmandu-based Lomus Pharmaceuticals.

The department has also banned the sale and distribution of the supplements from the batches.

The nutrition supplements have gained wide popularity and are being consumed in Nepal after the rise of COVID-19 pandemic.