In a major regulatory and administrative reform, the Government of Telangana has merged the Food Safety Department and the Drugs Control Department into a single administrative commissionerate named TG SAFE(Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs). Issued by the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department under government order G.O.Ms.No. 67, the initiative establishes a high-quality, technology-enabled regulatory framework aligned with national and international best practices to protect public health across the state.
The restructuring addresses the rapid growth of licensed food business operators and pharmaceutical establishments across Telangana. While both departments have functioned independently since 1981, the surge in commercial activity necessitated a unified surveillance, intelligence, and enforcement mechanism. By bringing both wings under a single-line administrative structure, the state aims to eliminate operational silos, expedite inspections, upgrade sampling and laboratory testing workflows, and curb the circulation of unsafe, spurious, and substandard food and drugs.
Under the new unified framework, the statutory powers of the respective authorities remain fully protected under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
1. Designated officers will continue to exercise their legal mandates independently, backed by integrated administrative, legal, and operational support. This consolidation is designed to enhance consumer safety, streamline regulatory compliance, and establish Telangana as a national benchmark for food and drug governance.
Written by: Pragna Biswas
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
