Srinagar, Aug 17 (JKNS) : Rajit Punhani, IAS, Secretary to the Government of India and Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, visited Food Laboratory, Kashmir.
During his visit to Srinagar, to have on spot assessment about it’s functioning. During the visit CEO FSSAI took round of the various sections, including Microbiological Section, Chemical Section and HEE Sections and interacted with Technical Staff of the Laboratory.
Subsequently, the CEO FSSAI Shri Rajit Punhani IAS, chaired a meeting which among others was attended by State Drug Controller J&K, Joint Commissioner Food Safety, Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir, Accounts Officer FDA, Food Analyst Food Testing Laboratory Srinagar and Jammu. Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, made a detailed presentation outlining the laboratory’s analytical capabilities, testing performance, NABL accreditation, infrastructure, manpower position and the roadmap for strengthening food testing facilities across the Union Territory. It was informed that the Food Laboratory, Kashmir is an FSSAI-notified and NABL-accredited facility equipped with advanced instruments, including GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS.
The laboratory presently has a NABL scope covering 354 parameters, comprising 77 quality and 277 safety parameters.
The presentation highlighted the testing workload handled during the last three financial years.
The laboratory analyzed 11,479 samples in 2023–24, 9,938 in 2024–25 and 6,722 in 2025–26, out of which 440, 266 and 381 samples, respectively, were found to be non-conforming. The Meeting was informed that the steps have been initiated to expand the scope of Laboratory to 3500 Parameters by end of 31st March, 2027 covering key commodities including Milk and Milk products, Fruits and Vegetables, Cereal and Cereal products, Oils and Fats and Indian Sweets etc, and achieve wider coverage of 5,000 parameters in the long run.
The Commissioner brought to the notice of the CEO, FSSAI the key constraints affecting the laboratory’s functioning, including inadequate infrastructure, shortage of technical manpower, sought intervention for approving the proposal for hiring of Technical Manpower, Chemicals, CRMs Consumables etc.
The CEO, FSSAI was requested for providing financial and technical assistance for construction of new laboratory building at Srinagar and Jammu and upgrading the facility to improve quantity and volume of testing.
The Food Laboratory, Kashmir is presently housed in an old, shared Drug & Food Laboratory complex, with limited space for modern equipment and dedicated instrument sections.
As part of the long-term strategy, the Department proposed developing an integrated Food Testing Laboratory network across Jammu & Kashmir by leveraging existing facilities in government institutions, including SKUAST and IUST, with suitable technical and manpower support. The initiative is intended to expand the overall testing capacity and facilitate timely analysis of samples received from different parts of the Union Territory.
The Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, expressed gratitude to Shri Rajit Punhani, IAS, CEO, FSSAI, for visiting the Food Laboratory, Kashmir and for taking a keen interest in its functioning, analytical capabilities and capacity-building requirements. The CEO, FSSAI expressed satisfaction on the working of laboratory and called upon the J&K FDA officials to continue their efforts for strengthening it further.
The visit and review are expected to provide further impetus to the Department’s efforts towards modernization of food testing facilities, expansion of NABL-accredited analytical capacity and establishment of a robust, integrated and scientifically strengthened food laboratory network across Jammu & Kashmir. (JKNS)