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MoFPI, state govts identifying and upgrading labs near airports, ports
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Monday, 12 December, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Pushkar Oak, Mumbai
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In a bid to streamline clearances and ensure food safety, the ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI) is working closely with the state governments to identify laboratories near points of entry and exit, such as ports and airports, so that they can be updated and accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
“The state governments have filed their requirements regarding upgradation and the needed capital for the same and has sent their proposals to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which will disburse the capital depending upon the requirements,” said Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, minister of state for food processing industries.
She also stated that such a development with regard to labs in the proximity of food parks and food processing clusters would be of great help to reduce the time taken for testing. “Several state governments are under running their lab upgradation programmes which will train skilled staff and also upgrade labs with all the apparatus and equipment needed for upgradation,” the minister said.
Sharing details about the move, Jyoti said, “Food processing clusters which are located near the points of entry and exit or are well connected to the modes of transports will be taken into consideration.”
“Further, based on the data accumulated by the states, the identification of the labs will be undertaken. The data will determine whether these labs are accredited or there is a need for upgradation,” she added.
As of now, a lab upgradation programme has commenced in Kerala. It will focus on the four state-owned laboratories. These labs will be upgraded with a motto to receive NABL accreditation. Of the four, two are located near the airport and the port, and will be a part of the move to fast-track the upgrade.
“We always have expected the industry to cooperate with the government. Even in this instance, food business operators (FBOs), who have their testing labs, are interested in offering their help through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, where the government and private players will operate labs jointly,” said Jyoti.
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