TN govt appoints M N Sridhar as state licensing authority & controlling authority for DC department

The Tamil Nadu government has appointed the incumbent controlling authority (CA) of the drugs control administration, M N Sridhar, as state licensing and controlling authority (SLA and CA) for the department of drugs control from June 18 onwards.   The pharmaceutical industry in Tamil Nadu has welcomed the decision of the government as they were struggling due to various reasons for the last one year because two officers were handling the controlling and licensing offices of the department.   The appointment of Sridhar has come following the retirement of the licensing authority Habib Mohammad on June 30.   As per the order issued by the principal secretary of health Dr. Gagandeepsingh Bedi, Sridhar has been authorized to issue licences for allopathic drugs, homeopathic drugs and for approved labs. He will be assisted by a team of drug inspectors who will scrutinize all proposals as per procedures being followed at present.   Sridhar is a postgraduate in pharmaceutical sciences (M Pharm) and has 31 years of experience in enforcement activities of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.   During his tenure as the controlling authority, within a 12 months period he took legal action against 434 violations and sanction orders were given for prosecutions. Administrative actions were taken against 283 traders, including wholesalers and retailers.   Meanwhile, in the last two months he has issued 41 sanction orders for prosecution and 68 administrative actions were taken against traders for violation of drugs and cosmetics act and the rules. Four sale licences were also cancelled.   Welcoming the decision of the health department in appointing MN Sridhar as both the controlling and licensing authorities, the chairman of the Tamil Nadu IDMA, J Jayaseelan said the pharma industry in the state will be benefited out of his appointment as he is an expert officer in the enforcement of drug act.   Dr S V Veeramani, chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council and the past president of the IDMA said Sridhar’s expertise and experience will become an advantage for the entire pharma sector. According to him, Sridhar is very much supportive to the pharma industry and helpful to entrepreneurs.   Mannargudi Ramachandran, former president of the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association said Sridhar’s elevation and new assignment will become helpful for the pharma traders of the state.   M Varadarajan, president of the TN Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association said Sridhar is an experienced and expert officer who knows everything about the pharma industry. He said the TN PMA will felicitate Sridhar in his office as he is very much supportive to the pharma MSME sector.

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