New Delhi: The government has cancelled the licences of 18 pharma companies for producing spurious and adulterated drugs, following joint inspections by central and state regulators at 76 drug manufacturers, a media report said.

The inspections were conducted across 20 states and Union territories in the past 15 days, the report said citing officials.

This is just the initial phase in the crackdown on companies involved in producing substandard medicines.

The authorities have cancelled the licences of 18 companies, while 26 companies have been issued show-cause notices, said the report.

During the drive, the regulators identified 203 firms. Most of the companies are from Himachal Pradesh (70), followed by Uttarakhand (45) and Madhya Pradesh (23), said the report.

Recently, some Indian pharma companies have come under the scanner of national and state drug regulators after drugs exported by them triggered negative reports.