The Central Government is to construct a state-of-art Food & Drug Administration Bhawan, as part of the ongoing World Bank funded Capacity Building Programme, within 15 months time.

The building is to house the apex regulatory bodies in the food and drug sectors. Announcement in this regard was made by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, union health and family welfare minister, during the stone laying ceremony of the Food and Drug Administration Bhawan at Central Health Education Bureau Campus, Kotla Road, here on March 24, 2005.

The minister said that the development of world-class infrastructure in food and drugs sector is a significant step towards the setting up of a drug and food regulatory system of international standards. The minister informed that the building would eventually house the Central Drugs Authority (CDA), an autonomous body being envisaged by the ministry in the drug sector. The ministry is serious about implementing all recommendations made by the Masheklar Committee for the upgradation of drug regulatory sector, he said.

Panabaka Lakshmi, minister for state, ministry of health and family welfare stressed the need for heightened awareness among various stakeholders on the need for a strong regulatory authority in the drugs and food sector. She released the first issue of Capacity Building Project Newsletter on the occasion.

In his address, Prassanna Hota, secretary, Health cautioned against the misconception that strong regulation hampers industrial growth. He said that he was also having mixed feelings about this, until a team from US Pharmacopoeia visited him to explain the benefits of a strong regulatory system. He said that a strong regulatory environment would attract more investments in the India pharmaceutical sector. Dr S P Agarwal, director General of Health Services and Ashok Kumar, CMD, HSCC were among the dignitaries on the dais. Rita Teotia, joint secretary, welcomed the gathering. Ashwini Kumar, DCGI proposed a vote of thanks.