Update on Food Testing Laboratories in India

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that it has recognized/notified 224 food testing laboratories (including 53 state government laboratories, 145 private laboratories and 26 other government laboratories for primary testing and 20 laboratories for testing referral food samples).

FSSAI does not establish primary food testing labs but recognizes and notifies labs based on voluntary applications. Further, FSSAI is implementing a Central Sector Scheme named "Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs(SOFTeL) under which State Food Testing Laboratories (SFTLs) are provided funds for setting up lab with basic lab equipment, installation of high end equipment and establishing microbiology lab.

FSSAI has also provided grants to States for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation, Certified Reference Materials, Consumables and for hiring contractual manpower. To extend reach of basic testing facilities even in remote areas, FSSAI has sanctioned/provided 254 mobile food testing labs called Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs). Ministry of Food Processing Industries has informed that total Food Testing Laboratories (FTL) projects completed from 2019 till date is 41 and on an average 37 persons have been employed in each FTL project. Therefore, total direct and indirect employment generated since 2019 is 1517. The details of funds released for food testing laboratories by Ministry of Food Processing Industries is Rs.25.96 crore in 2019-20, Rs.23.32crore in 2020-21 and Rs.34.43 crore in 2021-22. Further, the Draft Regulations for Genetically Modified foods have also been notified.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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HFW/ Food Testing Laboratories in India/29^thJuly 2022/6