The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday said it would block the import of more than 30 generic drugs made at two factories run by India-based Ranbaxy Laboratories because the company failed to meet safety and contamination standards for manufacturing drugs.

<p>However, the federal agency said there are no reports that consumers have been harmed by unacceptable production by the said laboratory and it is not issuing a recall of Ranbaxy-made generic drugs. It urged patients who take the banned medicines to continue taking them rather than stop without a doctor's recommendation, which could be dangerous.

<p>The FDA issued the import alert for drugs manufactured at two Ranbaxy factories in Dewas and Paonta Sahib. The drugs include those used to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, epilepsy and infections, among other conditions. The federal agency has made one exception to Ganciclovir oral capsules, an antiviral drug, since Ranbaxy is its sole supplier.

<p>The agency said in a statement that the ban would not create any shortages of the generic drugs as other firms could supply similar drugs.

<p>U.S. officials plan to carry out special oversight to ensure manufacturing problems are addressed, the FDA said.