The food wing of Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) conducted a special enforcement drive at dairy units and distributor points in Hyderabad on Tuesday during which a dairy establishment was closed for operating without a valid licence and maintaining unhygienic premises.

During the inspection, officials found several hygiene and sanitation violations at M/s Sapthagiri Foods in Karmanghat. The premises had uneven flooring with moss growth and inadequate drainage facilities. Officials also found a heavy presence of houseflies, with no proper pest control measures in place, besides garbage accumulated at several locations.

The inspection team also found that records relating to the testing of water and milk were not available. TG SAFE officials further noted inadequate hygiene among food handlers at the unit. The unit’s food licence was suspended for improper handling and processing of dairy products under unhygienic conditions.

The Telangana government has merged the Food Safety Department and the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) under a unified administrative structure called the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE), bringing food and drug regulation in the State under a single administrative authority.

The government has appointed 2005-batch IPS officer Avinash Mohanty, who was serving as Director General of the DCA, as Commissioner of TG SAFE, in addition to his existing duties. He has also been notified as Commissioner of Food Safety for Telangana.

Unified administrative framework

The merger order was issued by Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu. According to the order, the move has been prompted by the increasing number of licensed food business operators in the State and the need to strengthen compliance and enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, with the objective of preventing unsafe, spurious and substandard food and drugs.

The government said the two departments have common objectives relating to public health, consumer safety, quality assurance and regulatory enforcement. A unified administrative framework will help improve surveillance, intelligence gathering, enforcement, legal support and overall regulatory outcomes.

However, the merger is administrative in nature and does not dilute the statutory powers of the two departments. Authorities and officers under the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act will continue to exercise their respective statutory powers independently under the relevant laws and rules.

TG SAFE will function through six wings, namely, Drug Administration, Food Safety, Enforcement, Legal and Prosecution, Laboratory and Administration. The government has decided to initially operationalise the unified system in the CURE region, citing the high concentration of food business operators and drug establishments in the area.

During the initial phase, the Food Safety Department and DCA will work through common administrative, enforcement, legal, laboratory, intelligence and data-analysis mechanisms.

The government has also made provisions for the implementation of TG SAFE and permitted vacant sanctioned posts to be filled through deputation, contract or outsourcing in accordance with prescribed procedures. Alongside the merger, the government has ordered the constitution of a State-level committee to review the modernisation of the Food Safety and Drugs Control administration.

The committee will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the unified authority and examine issues such as harmonisation of service rules, optimal cadre strength for statutory duties, testing and legal support, intelligence and data-analysis systems, and infrastructure upgrades for field units and laboratories. It will also examine the scope for establishing a technology-enabled regulatory framework in line with national and global best practices.

The committee will also assess the outcomes and gains from the implementation of TG SAFE in the CURE region. Its recommendations will form the basis for a final decision on establishing a unified Food and Drug Department across Telangana, which is to be submitted within the prescribed timelines.