Healthcare
New Food & Drug Administration to Strengthen Quality Control and Manufacturing
By PIB
Mar 24, 2005, 17:36

The Union Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss today laid the foundation stone for a new Food and Drug Administration Bhawan. The construction of the Administrative Bhawan is a physical and psychological milestone as the building will be a symbol of what a uniform food and drug administration can do for consumer safety and awareness as well as clarity in the industry and improvement of quality.

The Food and Drug Administration Bhawan is being undertaken as part of a World Bank assisted capacity building project for food safety and quality control and drugs. The total cost of the project is about Rs.355 crores of which the multilateral funding agency will provide more than Rs.236 crores. The building itself is to cost Rs.11.74 crores and will be ready in about 15 months time.

The capacity building project will ensure that food quality is maintained and better supervision of the drug sector is ensured. The project also aims at improving the quality standards of street food vendors. It also envisages an autonomous Pharmacopoeia Commission. This Commission has already been notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said that India had the best regulatory laws and the best facilities but had to go a long way in enforcement and monitoring. He said that the World Bank assisted project will go a long way in equipping the drug control authorities in the Centre and at the States for better implementation.

The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi described the project as a catalytic one which will help in strengthening the regulatory mechanism and harmonise the food and drug quality standards and practices with International norms.

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