Karnataka government has issued order on the merger of the Ayush (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha Homeopathy) Drug Licensing Authority / Drug Enforcement Division & Drug testing Laboratories with State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under drug administration wing. This follows after the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala which have also their state department of Ayush under their FDA.
Karnataka government has issued an order to merge the AYUSH Drug Licensing Authority, the Drug Enforcement Division, and Drug Testing Laboratories into the State Food Safety and Drug Administration (State FDA)—effectively integrating all AYUSH-related regulation with the broader drugs control department.
This move is expected to officially integrate bringing regulatory functions of all types of drugs under a single authority. A unified regulatory structure for both Ayush and modern (allopathic) medicines will enable seamless monitoring and uniformity in surveillances of related production plants and medicine dispensing outlets. In fact, the government noted that a single authority handling all licensing, enforcement, and testing functions would streamline laboratory capacity. Instead of AYUSH’s one testing lab, the FDA facilities at Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Belagavi will handle quality testing, with full NABL accredited infrastructure.
There will be better oversight of improved compliance and standardisation, benefiting both consumer safety and export potential.
States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala have already integrated AYUSH into their state Drugs Control Departments. Karnataka is now following suit, aligning with this broader trend toward centralised drug governance.
The larger picture of this amalgamation is that it would ensure enhanced Quality Control, wider lab network and unified testing protocols to reduce risks from substandard or spurious AYUSH drugs.
Moreover, the merger will bring in efficiency, accountability and transparency. Currently one department now handles approvals, renewals, and enforcement, reducing delays and bureaucratic overlap.
Besides centralising resources can boost regulatory capacity and credibility. Previous concerns about poor oversight especially cross state quality issues can be better addressed when all licenses are issued under a single controlling authority.
The communication from the government also said that inspectors appointed as government analyst under Section 33 F of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act will be a person with qualifications prescribed in Rule 44 or a degree in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy. The government analyst is appointed as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The government’s decision to merge the AYUSH Drug Enforcement, Licensing Authority, with the State Food and Drug Administration marks a significant step toward regulatory unification. This strategic integration aims to enhance efficiency, ensure better quality control, and strengthen enforcement across both traditional and modern medicine sectors. By going along the model adopted by states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala, Karnataka is aligning itself with a broader national trend to streamline drug regulation and safeguard public health.
