Pharmacy associations like Maharashtra Pharmacy Welfare Association (MPWA), Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and Drugs Inspectors Welfare Association (DIWA), a government recognised association of drugs inspectors in Maharashtra, has urged Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on its long pending demand for inclusion of B Pharm as qualification for food safety officer under the Food Safety and Standard Rules 2011. Associations advocate, that this will help to deliver safe and unadulterated food products to the citizens of the country.

The demand has been pending since 2011 and need to be addressed on an urgent basis considering the fact that the eligibility criteria of having a degree on pharmacy was nullified with the enactment of The Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. The old Maharashtra Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (MPFA) provided for the eligibility criteria as having a degree on pharmacy for positions like Food Safety Officer and Assistant Commissioner (Food).

“Many of the existing Food Inspectors are B Pharm by qualification.
We feel that it is essential to include the ‘Pharmacy’ as one of the qualification along with above. Graduate in pharmacy (B Pharm) is one of the qualifications for food inspectors as mentioned in Rule 8 of  Maharashtra Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955. The said legislation is now being replaced by Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011”, R P Choudhary, president, DIWA stated in its letter to the government.

As per Rule 2.1.3. of the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011, a food inspector should posses a degree in food technology or dairy technology or biotechnology or oil technology or agricultural science or veterinary sciences or bio-chemistry or microbiology or masters degree in chemistry from a recognized university, or any other equivalent/recognized qualification notified by the Central Government, or graduate in medicine and has received training in food safety, sampling and surveillance approved for the purpose by the central government or state government.

As pharmacy education covers most of subjects such as human anatomy, physiology and genetics, jurisprudence, analytical chemistry, instrumentation, good manufacturing practices and process control, pharmacology (Effect of Drugs on Human Body) and toxicology,” the B Pharm professionals are believed to be well equipped in the technology as well as forensic part of the enforcement of Food and Drug rules.

“In view of aforesaid, it is essential to have B Pharm professionals in the enforcement of Food Safety and Standard Act and Rules, so that Government will be empowered with trained manpower for effective enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Act. Therefore we request you to kindly note our objection and also hereby suggest to include ‘Graduate in Pharmacy’ as one of the qualification for Food Safety officers under Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011”, Choudhary in its letter stated.