Maharashtra FDA to set up 3 new drug testing labs at Thane, Nagpur and Pune at a cost of Rs.900-cr

Mumbai, 14 Aug: The Maharashtra Food Drugs and Administration (FDA) will establish three new drug testing laboratories at Thane, Nagpur and Pune to test the quality standards of the pharmaceutical and food products manufactured in the state. The total cost of establishing these laboratories is estimated at Rs.900 crore. Currently FDA has only two drug testing laboratories one at Mumbai and another at Aurangabad. Sources from FDA said that the drug testing laboratory located at Mumbai is the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and has a capacity to conduct 8000 sample tests per annum. With the setting up of new drug testing laboratories, FDA has also proposed to set up nine food testing laboratories and 37 mobile banks for food testing at Mumbai, Aurangabad, Thane, Nagpur, Pune, Amravati, Jalgaon, Kolhapur and Nashik. FDA conducts testing of 8000 drug samples per annum at Mumbai and Aurangabad drug laboratories, so samples collected during raids across the state have to be transported to these centres. This results in delaying in preparing the reports which takes minimum 30 days. Meanwhile with more drug testing laboratories such delay in preparing results of drug samples could be reduced. State FDA estimates to conduct 60000 sample testing per annum for drugs and more than 90000 sample testing per annum for food at the planned centres across Maharashtra. Sources from the FDA said, “We are waiting for government's permission to grant the funds for starting these food and drug laboratories within six months to conduct more sample testing.” Sources further added that with this establishment people will get good hygenic food and good quality drugs. This will also help Drug Inspectors (DIs) and Food Safety Officers to collect the samples from across the state on a regular basis and an annual report would be sent to the FDA. State FDA is expecting to establish these drug and food testing laboratories at the earliest which will help drug inspectors and food safety officers to act and penalize violators in time under the Drugs & Cosmetics (D&C) Act, 1940 and FSSA Act.

Pharmabiz