TG SAFE intensifies food and drug inspections in Telangana

The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has intensified inspections of food and pharmaceutical establishments across the state. Since its formation in August through the merger of the Food Safety and Drugs Control departments, the regulator has inspected 208 units and cancelled 30 licences due to violations such as unhygienic premises and the sale of substandard medicines.

In a recent crackdown on dairy products, including sweets, khoya, and paneer, TG SAFE inspected 46 establishments, suspended four licences, and seized over 19 tonnes of material. The state has also banned the manufacture, storage, transport, and sale of analogue paneer. In Hayathnagar, a special drive at dairy units and distributor points led to the closure of an establishment found operating without a valid licence and maintaining unhygienic conditions.

On the pharmaceutical front, 115 medicines have been identified as ‘Not of Standard Quality’ (NSQ) since January 2025, leading to prosecutions or licence actions. TG SAFE currently processes 500 to 600 food samples for laboratory testing every month. Commissioner Avinash Mohanty stated that stringent punishments are applied if unsafe food results in illness and encouraged consumers to report issues directly to the agency.