Maharashtra FDA Labs May Operate 24x7

Mumbai, August 6, 2026: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe stated that government laboratories testing food and drug samples must operate round the clock if needed.

This comes after 29 FDA laboratory officers and employees in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar submitted a complaint to FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal, citing excessive workload and compulsory duties on weekends and public holidays.

The employees opposed the newly introduced two-shift system, which replaced the earlier office hours of 9.45 am to 6.15 pm. They claimed the revised schedule disrupted their work-life balance.

Mundhe rejected the allegations, stating that the new arrangement does not increase individual working hours. Each employee works only one eight-hour shift a day, with no one working beyond 48 hours a week, in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) norms.

Mundhe stressed that government laboratories cannot function like regular offices and must operate flexibly to ensure faster testing and timely regulatory action.

The employees maintained that the laboratory faces a severe shortage of staff, making it difficult to process samples according to Indian, British, and United States Pharmacopoeia standards.

Mundhe attributed the increased workload to the FDA's intensified crackdown on food adulteration and unsafe products across Maharashtra.

The FDA's decision to extend laboratory working hours aims to address the growing backlog of samples and ensure effective public health enforcement.

In response to the employees' concerns, Mundhe said that those unwilling to work according to government rules are free to resign and leave.

The FDA's intensified efforts to combat food adulteration and ensure public health safety have resulted in a significant increase in samples reaching state laboratories.

As the FDA continues to work towards ensuring the safety of food and drugs in Maharashtra, the issue of laboratory working hours and staff shortages remains a pressing concern.

The situation highlights the need for flexible and efficient laboratory operations to address the growing demands of public health enforcement in the state.

In conclusion, the Maharashtra FDA's decision to extend laboratory working hours is a step towards ensuring the safety of food and drugs in the state, and the commissioner's stance on employee working hours reflects the importance of adapting to the needs of public health enforcement.