2 weeks ago
Telangana merges food and drugs control into unified TG SAFE
The government of Telangana, a state in India, is combining two important offices.
One office checks the safety of the food we eat, and the other checks the safety of our medicines.
The new combined office is called TG SAFE.
Its job is to make sure that food and medicines are real and safe for everyone.
The government gave an official order to create this new office.
An officer named Avinash Mohanty will be the leader, or commissioner, of TG SAFE.
The old rules about food and medicines will still be used, but now the offices will work together.
The new office will use smart inspections and will get help from police officers.
It will start working in the 'Cure' area, where many food and medicine businesses are located.
A special committee will also study how to make the system even better.
Telangana merged its Food Safety Department and Drugs Control Department into a unified authority named TG SAFE (Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs).
The Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department issued G.O. Ms. No. 67, with the orders taking effect on August 15, 2026.
IPS officer Avinash Mohanty, who also serves as Director General of the Drugs Control Administration, was appointed Commissioner of TG SAFE via a gazette notification.
Statutory provisions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 will be preserved, with statutory authorities and officers continuing to exercise powers independently.
Operations will begin in the 'Cure' area, where police personnel will support enforcement, and a state-level committee will modernize the regulatory framework.
- Who
- The Telangana government and its Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department, with IPS officer Avinash Mohanty appointed as Commissioner of TG SAFE and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy endorsing the move.
- What
- The Food Safety Department and Drugs Control Department were merged into a unified administration named TG SAFE (Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs).
- Where
- Telangana, India; the announcement was reported from Hyderabad, and initial operations will focus on the 'Cure' area.
- When
- The Government Order (G.O. Ms. No. 67) was issued, and the orders took effect on August 15, 2026; the launch was reported on August 17, 2026.
- Why
- To strengthen compliance and enforcement, prevent unsafe, spurious and substandard food and drugs, and improve surveillance, coordination and regulatory outcomes to protect public health.
Key facts
- New body
- TG SAFE (Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs)
- Merged departments
- Food Safety Department and Drugs Control Department
- Governing acts
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
- Commissioner
- Avinash Mohanty (IPS), Director General, Drugs Control Administration
- Effective date
- August 15, 2026
- Government order
- G.O. Ms. No. 67, Department of Medical, Health & Family Welfare
- State
- Telangana, India
- Initial operations area
- 'Cure' area (high concentration of food and pharmaceutical establishments)
Quotes
AVINASH MOHANTY
IPS officer and former Director General of Drugs Control Administration
“The Food Safety Department and the Drugs Control Department share common objectives relating to public health, consumer safety, quality assurance and effective regulatory enforcement. A unified administrative framework is required to improve surveillance, intelligence, enforcement, legal support and regulatory outcomes. Government, after careful examination, now decides to establish a unified administrative structure for the Food Safety Department and the Drugs Control Department.”
thehansindia.com
“I am honoured to be appointed as the commissioner of TG SAFE, and I will work to strengthen food and drug safety across Telangana.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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