The Tamil Nadu government has placed the pharmaceutical company Abbott on a five-year blacklist.

The Tamil Nadu Health Services Corporation blacklisted Abbott Healthcare for five years for concealing the fact that it had been banned by the General Health Authority and the Indian Medical Council State Employee Insurance Corporation. It will be unable to supply painkillers or drug-eluting heart stents purchased at a low cost by the government, but the procurement agency says it will obtain them from other manufacturers.

The US Food and Drug Administration has chastised Abbott after the deadly bacterium cronobacter was discovered in its infant formula plant in February.

During the auction, the TN purchasing agency received a complaint against the company via mail.

The investigation discovered that the firm had not filed any charges or been suspended by other agencies.