IPA urges government to recognize B Pharm as qualification for FSO, FA posts

The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), the apex body representing licensed pharmacists in India, once again appealed to the Union Health Minister JP Nadda to grant eligibility to the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm) qualification for the jobs of Food Safety Officer (FSO) and Food Analyst (FA).

In a recent letter to the minister, Dr. Subhash Mondal, General Secretary of IPA and formerly with West Bengal FDA as a regulatory officer, pointed out that B Pharm graduates possess core competencies in food testing, analysis, and safety standards, which are comparable with the competencies for FSO and FA. He went on to say that their academic training itself provides the pharmacy students with hands-on exposure to food manufacturing and nutraceutical industries apart from subjects like instrumental analysis, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and quality assurance.

The letter becomes pertinent, especially after the amendments in the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, which have permitted graduates in traditional medicine systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy, and Sowa-Rigpa to be eligible for the FSO posts. However, pharmacy qualifications continue to remain excluded since it does have a scientific and technical basis concerning food safety parameters.

Dr. Mondal argued that food and drugs share a regulatory system that is unified in many Indian states under a Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this structural and functional overlap, he urged the government to recognize the association of pharmacy graduates in both fields.

The IPA states that by excluding B Pharm, there is a serious underutilization of a ready workforce that is already qualified and capable. Thus, the Association has requested the Ministry to amend the provisions to include B Pharm as a qualification for FSO and FA posts in public health and administrative congruence.