Telangana Forms Unified Food and Drug Authority to Boost Public Health

Hyderabad – The Telangana administration has taken a decisive step by consolidating its Food Safety Department with the Drug Control Department into a single authority called TG Safe – Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs. The move, announced on 16 August, is anchored in the legal provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The order specifies that all existing statutory powers will remain intact, allowing officers to continue exercising authority under their respective Acts while operating within a unified command structure. IPS officer Avinash Mohanti, formerly the Director General of the Drug Control Administration, has been appointed as the Commissioner of the new body.

The decision follows a noticeable rise in licensed food‑trade operations across the state, prompting concerns over the proliferation of unsafe, counterfeit, and low‑quality food items and medicines. By merging licensing, inspection, sampling, testing and enforcement activities, the government expects heightened coordination, better data analytics, and stronger regulatory outcomes.

A dedicated committee will evaluate current enforcement practices, recommend modernisation of testing facilities, align service norms, and determine appropriate staffing and technological resources. The ultimate goal is to craft a robust, technology‑enabled regulatory ecosystem that aligns with both national standards and international best practices.