Food Testing Laboratories

Lok Sabha

As per the study conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, 312 food testing laboratories are functioning in public and private sector in the country. The study observed that only few laboratories are fully equipped to cater to the domestic regulatory testing and export testing needs of the industry.

Although Ministry of Food Processing Industries does not set up food testing laboratories on its own, it provides financial assistance for setting up/up-gradation of food testing laboratories under its plan scheme to various stakeholders such as Central/State Government organisations IITs, Universities, private sector organisations. The schemes operated by the Ministry are not state specific. The proposals received from states and other stakeholders for setting up/up-gradation of food testing laboratories are considered as per guidelines of this Ministry. During the 11th Plan, the Ministry has a target to set up/upgrade 74 food testing labs in the country.

An amount of Rs. 18.70 crore was spent during the last three years for setting up/up-gradation of food testing laboratories.

This information was given by Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister of Food Processing Industries, in the Lok Sabha today in a written reply.

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VLK/ska