100 New NABL-Accredited Food Testing Labs: A Major Boost for Food Safety

Great news for India’s food industry! The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) has announced plans to set up 100 new NABL-accredited food testing labs across the country. This initiative, backed by government funding for the 2025-26 financial year, was revealed by Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries.

Speaking at the inauguration of a world-class food testing lab at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University in Bathinda, Bittu emphasized how crucial food testing is for public health and exports. These labs will ensure that our food meets strict safety standards and is free from harmful contaminants.

Why This Matters

Food safety isn’t just about following regulations—it directly impacts public health, exports, and farmers’ incomes. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) has already invested ₹503.47 crore in 205 laboratory projects, with 169 completed so far. These labs will work with FSSAI, Export Inspection Council (EIC), APEDA, and even international agencies like USFDA and EU regulators to ensure Indian food meets global standards.

Who Benefits?

This initiative will support farmers, food processors, and exporters across various sectors:
✅ Fruits & Vegetables – Citrus, green peas, cauliflower, carrots (fresh & frozen)
✅ Dairy – Milk & milk products
✅ Grains – Basmati rice, wheat, millets
✅ Oils – Mustard & sunflower oilseeds
✅ Seafood – Shrimp farming

For farmers and food businesses, higher quality means better prices and wider export opportunities. Plus, these labs will create new jobs for skilled professionals in food testing and quality control.

Cutting-Edge Technology for Safer Food

The new lab in Bathinda is just the beginning. It’s equipped with the latest technology to test for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and harmful microbes, using:
🔬 GC-MS/MS – Detects pesticide contamination
🔬 ICP-OES – Identifies heavy metals
🔬 HPLC & UV Spectrophotometers – Tests for harmful chemicals

With ₹253.12 lakh allocated to this project (₹191.259 lakh already released), this lab will help food businesses, farmers, and exporters maintain top-notch food safety standards.

Punjab’s Food Processing Boom

Punjab is emerging as a major hub for food processing. The government has:
📌 Approved 24 cold chain projects worth ₹553 crore
📌 Funded 3 agro-processing clusters with ₹70 crore
📌 Invested ₹432 crore in 16 food processing units
📌 Set aside ₹48 crore for 10 food testing labs

In addition, six factories have committed ₹126.31 crore under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, while over 2,500 micro-entrepreneurs have received financial support under the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

The Road Ahead

With food safety becoming a bigger priority, these 100 new food testing labs will play a vital role in improving food quality, increasing exports, and protecting public health. This move puts India one step closer to becoming a global leader in food safety and quality assurance.

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB) Press Release, March 22, 2025