A state-of-the-art microbiology lab was inaugurated at the Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Kochi. The microbiology lab will be managed under the administrative and technical control of the Export Inspection Council (EIC). The new lab is poised to play a key role in strengthening food safety standards while enhancing the quality of exports.
While inaugurating the laboratory, Nitin Kumar Yadav, Director (EIC) and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, stated that export inspection agencies and the EIC are India’s backbone for export certification. Further, he added that Inspection agencies and EIC regularly need to upgrade their infrastructure in the dynamic global regulatory environment. Especially in the era of a dynamic regulatory environment, laboratory capabilities must be updated to ensure that Indian products meet the highest international standards.
New Microbiology Lab Equipped with Advanced Food and Feed Pathogen Testing Feature
The new microbiology lab at Kochi is equipped with facilities to conduct advanced microbiological analysis of food and feed, especially for pathogens relevant to export, import, and domestic markets. Further, the new lab also boasts a training centre designed to build technical expertise in the field and develop a pool of skilled professionals, especially from Kerala and Karnataka.
New Labs at Mangaluru, Ahmedabad, and Faridabad
Nitin Kumar Yadav, Director (EIC) and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry also informed about the new labs which are in their advanced stage of operationalisation at Mangaluru, Ahmedabad, and Faridabad. Where the lab at Faridabad is in the pipeline.
Officials at EIC said that the laboratory has already earned national recognition. It has been designated as the National Referral Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) testing by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and is also authorised to provide Proficiency Testing in this specialised area.