On 20th July, 2025, we had a special interactive session with Mrs. Shweta Desai, Director of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of Goa. The session aimed to give students an understanding of the FDA’s functioning and its role in safeguarding public health.
Mrs. Desai began by explaining the mission of the FDA, which focuses on ensuring excellence in public health through the availability of safe food and medicines. She also provided an overview of the federal system of drug regulation and the organisational structure of the Goa FDA.
The students were introduced to the responsibilities of the Drug Section, which include the licensing of drug manufacturing units, medical devices, cosmetics, and testing laboratories. Mrs. Desai further elaborated on activities such as inspections of manufacturing units, preventing the sale of drugs without a licence, and monitoring the presence of banned drugs in the market.
This was followed by an explanation of the Food Section, whose duties involve licensing, food sampling, and initiating prosecution in cases involving unsafe food. Mrs. Desai highlighted various awareness programmes conducted for business operators regarding hygiene and food safety, as well as the measures taken to curb unsafe food practices, including artificial fruit ripening.
A key takeaway from the session was the importance of checking the MRP and expiry date on medicines and being conscious of hygiene standards, especially while eating at fast-food outlets.
The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer segment, during which Mrs. Desai addressed students’ queries with enthusiasm and clarity.
Overall, the talk offered the students a deeper appreciation of the complexity and significance of the FDA’s work and its direct impact on the daily lives of citizens.
By: Nora Martins