Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya virtually inaugurated the new building of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) Bhawan, South Zone at Chennai.

It will facilitate drug, cosmetics safety and regulatory activities of southern States/UTs including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

As part of strengthening the drug regulatory system in the country, Government of India has approved various projects, construction of new CDSCO offices, new drug testing labs and upgrading of existing labs, mini labs at ports etc., under the 12th Five Year Plan”, said the Minister.

With 578 blood centres, 700 drug manufacturing units, 251 cosmetics manufacturing units, 9 vaccine manufacturing units, 85 medical devices manufacturing units, 40 analytical labs and 12 BA/BE centres, CDSCO Bhawan South Zone will help in monitoring the quality of drugs through joint inspections and other licenses like blood bank license, vaccines and sera, large volume parenterals, r-DNA products, medical devices etc.

They will also assist in inspection of clinical trial facilities, and public drug testing laboratory along with drawing of regular drugs samples and carrying out surprise checks/raid jointly/independently.