In a pivotal move, the Karnataka government has announced the consolidation of the Food Safety and Standards Department with the Drug Control Department, establishing the new entity named the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA), effective immediately.
The newly formed department will be led by the current Commissioner of the Food Safety and Standards Department, who has been given the role of the chief of the newly unified FDA, as per the official directive. This merger was authorized following a nod from the finance department and the Cabinet’s approval.
Several states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, have already unified their respective Drug Control and Food Safety and Standards Departments under one Commissioner to enhance operational efficiency. Karnataka’s decision follows a similar path to boost service delivery, according to the government.
The head of the newly structured FDA Department will be the Commissioner from the Food Safety and Standards Department. Personnel from both departments are instructed to operate under the directives of the FDA Commissioner, according to the released order.
In response to this new development, the FDA Commissioner must urgently present relevant proposals regarding service rules, recruitment regulations, amendments to existing statutes, and any necessary alterations to meet the requirements of the restructured department.
Prior to the merger, the Drug Control Department operated autonomously since 1956, with a focus on ensuring that consumers have access to high-quality, safe, and cost-effective medicines. This was achieved by enforcing the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and associated regulations. The department consisted of administrative and enforcement units, drug testing labs, and a pharmacy education division.
The Food Safety and Standards Department, working under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, overseas food quality by preventing adulteration and promoting nutritional food for public health. It also licenses and registers food businesses, ensuring compliance through sampling and legal measures against substandard products.
The government’s rationale for this merger included an overlap in the responsibilities of both departments, which aim to guarantee high-quality food and medicine for the public’s benefit. Streamlining these operations under a unified leadership promises to deliver more efficient and impactful services to the community. Merging these departments affords the public access to comprehensive, top-notch services within a single administrative structure. This strategic consolidation aims at providing enhanced service quality and efficiency to the citizens of Karnataka, as stated by the government.