The drug maker, GSK has launched a probe into Augmentin antibiotic after the drug was banned by a Chinese drug authority, State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). The drug is commonly prescribed to children and is a major contributor to the annual sales of GSK.

The drug was recalled in Taiwan and Hong Kong after it was found that Augmentin is contaminated with Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), which is used mainly as an additive in plastics to make them more flexible.

The SFDA has revealed that no case of illness have been reported from the use of Augmentin Syrup. Zhang Saying, Director of GSK China's Corporate Communications and Public Relations Department, said the amount of the chemical identified at present in the product samples tested was very low.

She told the China Daily on Sunday via email, that the US and European authorities have said that the low levels of DIDP do not pose any risk to humans. She added that the after the recall the GSK has launched an investigation into the matter to make sure that the drug is in compliance with the SFDA decision. Currently, in China’s 2010 Pharmacopoeia, only three kinds of plasticizers: DMP, DEP and DBP are allowed by the drug manufacturers.