Mumbai: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on January 11, 2010 unveiled the first modern zonal Food & Drug Administration Bhavan at Mumbai Central. Earlier, the office was located in a rented building at Antop Hill and was shifted to the new premises in March 2009. The Head Office of the Maharashtra FDA is located at the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

A state-of-the-art office has been set up with all modern facilities at the new Bhavan. The west zone office of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is a single stop regulatory window for pharmaceutical companies working under the Drug Controller General of India and has been built at a cost of Rs 11 core. The Administration and the Laboratory have been placed in the same building with separate entity to maintain integrity and transparency.

"The updated laboratories would certainly of immense use to the manufacturers, importers and exporters of drugs and food articles in ensuring that only quality medicines and food articles reach the consumers both within the country and across the world," the health minister said. The health ministry is also planning to set up similar zonal and sub-zonal centres in 15 locations in the country including Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Sikkim, Indore and Goa.