Dakota Laboratories banned from manufacturing and distributing drugs

Federal judge approves consent decree against Dakota Laboratories

Company repeatedly failed to comply with the FDA's drug manufacturing requirements

Dakota Laboratories LLC and its president, Charles L. Voellinger, Sr., are prohibited from manufacturing and distributing drugs until they correct their ongoing violations of the drug manufacturing laws. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration entered into a consent decree of permanent injunction on Aug. 26, 2013 which enjoined the drug maker and distributor for repeated failure to comply with federal drug manufacturing requirements, known as Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).

The cGMPs serve as the primary regulatory safeguard over drug manufacturing and must be followed by companies to ensure the production of safe and effective products.

Dakota Laboratories and its president must address the violations, have an expert inspect their facilities and certify compliance with the cGMPs, and receive the FDA's authorization to resume operations.

Dakota Laboratories' repeated violations of the cGMPs were documented during the FDA's 2010, 2011, and 2012 inspections of the company. In 2011, the FDA issued the company a warning letter for violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

"The FDA had previously warned the company that corrective actions were necessary, and it ignored our warning," said Melinda K. Plaisier, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "We took today's action to assure that the firm puts controls in place to protect the public's health."

To date, the FDA has not received reports of patient harm related to the use of any of Dakota Laboratories' products.