About the Department

The State Licensing Authority is the licensing authority for the grant or renewal of a licence to manufacture for sale any Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs and also approving authority for approval of institutions for carrying out tests on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs and raw materials used in their manufacture on behalf of licenses for manufacture for sale of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs.

The District Siddha Medical officers are designated as Drug Inspector (Indian Medicine) for the purpose of implementation of the provisions pertaining to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945. Subject to the instruction of Controlling Authority, the Drug Inspector (Indian Medicine) is authorized to inspect premises, take samples and institute prosecution in respect of violation of the Act and Rules made thereunder. In Tamil Nadu there are around 537 manufacturing units are licenced to manufacture for sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs and 13 institutions have been approved for carrying out tests on ASU drugs and raw materials.