Bengaluru: The Karnataka govt has decided to engage authorised third-party agencies to conduct regulatory inspections, audits and certifications in departments facing a shortage of field staff, in a move to clear the backlog of inspections and ensure timely compliance.
The powers to collect food and drug samples, seize products and initiate legal prosecution will remain exclusively with govt authorities, sources said. However, engaging private agencies will not dilute the statutory powers of govt officials. The initiative will prioritise departments where staff shortages have delayed routine inspections. These include the legal metrology department, which conducts annual inspections and stamping of weighing and measuring instruments; the food safety and drugs administration department, which inspects food establishments, restaurants, medical stores and pharmacies; and the department of factories and boilers, which oversees industrial boiler safety inspections and annual certification. The proposal will also be reviewed at the KDP progress review meeting chaired by the chief secretary.