Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure
Quality and Food Safety have become competitive edge in the global market for food products. For the all-round development of the food processing sector in the country. Apart from this, in the interest of consumer safety and public health, there is a need to ensure that the quality food products manufactured and sold in the market meet the stringent parameters prescribed by the food safety regulator. Keeping in view the aforesaid objectives, government has been extending financial assistance under the scheme under the following component:
About Setting Up/Up-gradation of Quality Control/Food Testing Laboratories
Development of food processing sector has necessitated the requirement of strengthening Quality Assurance and Food Testing Infrastructure. In order to assure availability of wholesome, hygienic and safe food and processed food to the consumer, compliance to the product and safety standards is basic regulatory requirement. Further, there is requirement for the food processing industry to (a) test domestic production in order to ensure that it complies with domestic standards as well as international standards for exports and (b) test imports coming into the country to ensure that they are of the requisite standard. The level of contaminants, additives, and pesticide residues in food items has to be monitored regularly. Therefore, need for a network of food testing and analysis laboratories was felt to support the Food Safety Regulatory activities and help the food processing industry in regard to quality control measures. The Scheme of setting up/ up-gradation of food testing laboratories is under implementation since 2005 and has created supporting infrastructure to assure quality of food being produced and manufactured in India, exported to other countries and also imported in India.
Under the scheme, Central/ State Government and their organizations/ Government universities (including deemed universities) and all other implementing agencies/private sector organizations/universities (including deemed universities) are eligible to receive financial assistance for setting up of food testing laboratories.
Pattern of Assistance
- Government organizations are eligible for grants-in-aid of (i) entire (100%) cost of the eligible cost of the approved equipment (as per paragraph 3(a) above) and (ii) 2% of the eligible cost of the approved equipment or Rs.15.00 lakh, whichever is lower, towards Technical Civil Work (TCW) and Furniture & Fixtures (as per paragraph 3(b) above) on lump-sum basis.
- Private organizations/ entities are eligible for grants-in-aid of (i) 50% (in General Areas)/ 70% (in Difficult Areas as well as for SC/ST applicants) of the eligible cost of the equipment (as per paragraph 3(a) above) and (ii) 2% of the eligible cost of approved equipment or Rs. 15.00 lakh, whichever is lower, towards Technical Civil Work (TCW) and Furniture & Fixtures (as per paragraph 3(b) above) on lump-sum basis.
- When the Ministry itself establishes Food Testing Laboratories or sponsors such projects, there would be no ceiling to financial assistance and the grants-in-aid to be provided to such FTL will be decided on case to case basis with the approval of competent authority.
Contact Details:
Shri Pankaj Kumar,
Director,
Ministry of Food Processing Industries,
Panchsheel Bhawan, August Kranti Marg,
New Delhi-110049
Tel: 011-26406523
Email: pankaj[dot]kumar1975[at]gov[dot]in