On July 23 2024, Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 in the parliament. She announced a proposal to launch various government schemes, including a plan to set up 100 new NABL-accredited quality and safety food testing labs in the country. Mrs Sitharaman also proposed a policy to develop 100-weekly ‘haats’ or street food hubs in a select few cities around the country.
This move comes in the wake of rising cases related to food adulteration, poor quality of ingredients used, misleading packages and unhygienic food practices followed in India. The Government of India and the Health Ministry have shown concern for the spurge in such cases by taking stringent measures to deal with the blatant violation of laws and consumer safety.
Announcement to Set Up 100 NABL Labs under Budget 2024
However, the recent announcement by the finance minister can be viewed in this context as a precautionary measure in dealing with public health safety issues. Given the apprehensions around this issue, setting up additional NABL-accredited labs makes sense to curb the menace of food safety violations.
All such violations have gravely affected public health and, in some cases, have led to fatalities. Considering the overall scenario, this announcement by Smt. Sitharaman should be viewed as a positive step in dealing with the critical issue, prioritizing the otherwise neglected public health.
Before we proceed further to discuss the implications of having additional NABL-accredited labs in the country, let’s first understand NABL and its role in ensuring public health and welfare.
What is NABL?
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is an accreditation body in India that has an accreditation system established in accordance with ISO/ IEC 17011. Founded by the Department of Science and Technology of India, NABL was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 on August 12, 1998. NABL is a part of the Quality Council of India (QCI).
NABL aims to offer third-party assessments of the quality and technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories. NABL is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) of ILAC and APAC, helping lower technical barriers to trade and fostering acceptance of tests and calibration results across different countries.
NABL is a self-financing body and offers non-discriminatory services. It however, charges fees to cover its operational costs and overhead expenses from Conformity Assessment Bodies.
Voluntary Accreditation Services offered by NABL
NABL offers voluntary accreditation services to:
- Testing Laboratories – As per ISO/ IEC 17025 ‘General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.’
- Calibration Laboratories – As per ISO/ IEC 17025 ‘General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.’
- Medical Testing Laboratories – As per ISO 15189, ‘Medical laboratories -Requirements for quality and competence.’
- Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP) – As per ISO/IEC 17043 ‘Conformity assessment — General requirements for proficiency testing.’
- Reference Material Producers (RMP) – As per ISO 17034, ‘General requirements for the competence of reference material producers.’
NABL Accredited Labs in India
NABL accreditation labs in India are pivotal in maintaining testing & calibration quality and accuracy. In compliance with international standards like ISO/IEC 17025, these labs cover biological, chemical, mechanical and electric testing.
Labs with accreditation reflect their adherence to high precision, consistency and reliability standards. NABL labs follow regulations, meet compliances, boost consumer trust, and enable international trade by bringing Indian products at par with global standards and quality benchmarks.
NABL-accredited labs are used primarily by pharmaceutical, food safety, environmental science, and manufacturing industries.
Role of NABL in Ensuring Food Safety
NABL-accredited labs play an essential role in maintaining food safety standards in India. As an integral part of the Indian food safety ecosystem, these labs help the food industry maintain quality and meet regulatory compliances. FSSAI registration is also concerned with food safety and quality standards. With their testing services, NABL labs contribute to public health through the following:
- Testing for Contaminants – NABL labs are equipped to test harmful contaminants, including heavy metals, microbial pathogens and pesticides to ensure the food is safe for human consumption.
- Nutritional Analysis – NABL labs verify the nutritional information to ensure the food products have the correct labels reflecting the content. This is essential for consumer awareness and regulatory compliance.
- Adherence to Standards – NABL labs adhere to international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025. These standards substantiate that NABL labs have globally recognized robust testing methods in place.
- Support to Regulators – NABL labs support food safety regulators by offering reliable data, which in turn helps implement food safety regulations and standards in the country.
- Consumer Confidence – NABL-accredited labs help build consumer trust in food products by ensuring that the products qualified safety tests and are fit for human consumption.
- Trade Facilitation – NABL labs facilitate the export of Indian products in the global markets by ensuring that Indian food products meet international standards.
Food Safety in India
The Food Safety Standard of India, or FSSAI, is the regulatory body governing the quality, safety and standards of food products in India. The growing safety and quality concerns call for rigorous measures to maintain the standards in the more significant interest of public health. One of the best ways to deal with it is to bolster the nationwide network of food testing laboratories.
Food testing laboratories are equipped with the right kind of infrastructure to test the quality of food products. Their role extends beyond this scope to investment in human resources, monitoring stakeholders’ performance and creating customer awareness.
Despite stringent measures in place, various foods and ingredients regularly fail the country’s standard quality and safety tests, reflecting uncertainties surrounding public health. Not too long ago, authorities in Singapore and Hong Kong had certain Indian spices taken off the shelves. These spices contained ethylene oxide beyond the permitted levels, making them toxic for human consumption.
This is not an isolated case. In 2015, food regulators in India temporarily banned Maggi, a Nestlé product, after it contained excessive lead content. Maggi was also in trouble over mislabelling of flavour enhancer MSG. However, it returned to shelves with the “No added MSG” claim removed from its packaging.
Another incident of brazen violation was reported with Nestlé’s baby food product. Nestlé, a brand trusted by Indian parents was found to be violating safety measures yet again in the country. Their baby food – Cerelac, was found to contain added sugar for Indian consumption. However, the exact product followed all necessary compliances in other developed markets like the US and Europe.
Such blatant violations in India demand more stringent measures, regulatory compliances and penalties. It’s tragic that some brands take the liberty to play with public health in India but don’t dare to mess with compliances in other markets.
Existing NABL Labs in the Country
The existing NABL labs in India present a significant network of accredited testing laboratories. According to FSSAI data, until May 5 2024, 206 NABL-accredited laboratories are functional and being used as primary food testing labs in India. These labs play a critical role in safeguarding public health by implementing quality, safety and compliance of food products in India.
These labs are committed to upholding the country’s food safety and regulatory standards by following compliances set forth by organizations such as FSSAI and BIS.
All the existing 206 NABL-accredited labs analyze the food samples collected under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
Conclusion
Perhaps the lack of strict implementation fails to deter violators from playing with our country’s public health! However, the decision by the government of India to set up another 100 NABL labs across the country is a great relief for consumers. Food testing and analysis is an essential part of the food safety ecosystem to safeguard consumers’ health.
The addition of 100 more NABL-accredited labs has the potential to strengthen the ecosystem through increased logistical infrastructure. However, another point of concern is the penalties served to violators. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act) of 2006 mandates punishments for food safety offences, including adulteration, selling unhygienic food and misleading advertisements.
Penalties for violations are listed as per the offence committed and the grievousness of the offence, with a fine ranging from INR 1 lakh to INR 10 lakh. Violations that do not cause injury can be penalized with a prison sentence of up to six months, while violations causing death are punishable with at least a seven-year prison sentence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is NABL accreditation, and why is it essential for food safety labs?
NABL accreditation is a step to ensure laboratory compliance for testing and calibration to produce reliable and accurate results, which is essential for maintaining food safety.
How do food manufacturers benefit from NABL accreditations?
NABL-accredited labs provide reliable test results, which help food manufacturers ensure their products meet safety standards and regulatory requirements. Overall, this allows them build consumer trust and run their businesses hassle-free.
What type of tests do NABL-certified labs perform?
NABL-certified labs perform various tests, including heavy metal analysis, microbiological analysis, pesticide residue testing, chemical testing and nutritional labelling.
Are NABL-credited labs mandatory for food safety testing in India?
Although not mandatory, it is advisable to use NABL-accredited labs for food safety testing, which offers high-quality, credible testing in accordance with international standards.
How can consumers verify if a food safety lab is NABL-accredited or not?
Consumers can visit NABL’s website and check the directory of accredited labs to authenticate the accreditation of a lab for specific tests and parameters.
How often do NABL-accredited labs undergo audits?
NABL-accredited labs undergo audits and assessments regularly, usually every two years, as a part of compliance.
What is the difference between NABL-accreditation and FSSAI approval for labs?
While NABL accreditation evaluates a lab’s technical competence and adherence to international standards, FSSAI approval is exclusive to food safety testing. NABL accreditation ensures the quality and reliability of test results across various fields, and FSSAI approval is mandatory for labs conducting food safety tests.
Can NABL-accredited labs test imported food products?
Yes, NABL-accredited labs can test imported food products to ensure they meet Indian food and safety standards and regulations.
How do NABL-accredited labs contribute to public health?
NABL-accredited labs contribute to public health through reliable and accurate food safety testing. Such testing helps prevent foodborne diseases, safeguarding the public from consuming unsafe food products.
What steps are required to get NABL accreditation for a food safety lab in India?
The process to get NABL accreditation for a food safety lab in India requires following the given steps:
1. Applying for accreditation
2. Undergoing comprehensive assessment
3. Fixing the issues that do not conform to the standards identified during the audit
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