The State Food Safety Department has started upgrading its existing laboratory and increasing manpower, said sources. It lacks necessary equipment to carry out testing of the food sample and drugs, senior official of the food department said.
According to official of the food department, unavailability of micro-biologists and improper infrastructure were spotted in the lab. Till now, the food lab does not have the facility of mirco-biological testing, which is considered to be the primary test to trace the quality of food sample, whether it is bacterial food or not.
A senior official of the Food Department told The Pioneer on Tuesday that, "In a joint effort both by Central and State Government, they have sanctioned Rs 15 crore and Delhi Government has allotted Rs 5.5 crore respectively for the enhancement of Government's drugs testing laboratory. It is for the first time, a comprehensive, improvement is being done."
Both Government labs are located at Lawrence Road in North West Delhi in the national Capital. The food lab is supposed to carry out various physical, chemical, micro-biological and pesticide residues tests of the food items. The food laboratory carries out tests as per standards laid down under Food Safety & Standard Act-2006, Rules & Regulations 2011.
"Currently, chemists in the department are able to carry out the tests related to chemical analysis. The testing equipments in the micro-biology as well as the Pesticide Residue are lying idle," said the official.
On the other hand, the drug lab carries inspection on fake medicines, to analysis the outcome of the drugs usage and nature of medicine and also to check the toxins in the medicine, if there is any.
Besides, the Delhi Government has initiated the process to fill up the vacant posts of the chemists, food analyst, micro-biologists, drugs analysts and other staff. "Over 3,000 drugs testing can be conducted, ones the drug lab is fully functional", the senior official added.
According to official of the food department, unavailability of micro-biologists and improper infrastructure were spotted in the lab. Till now, the food lab does not have the facility of mirco-biological testing, which is considered to be the primary test to trace the quality of food sample, whether it is bacterial food or not.
A senior official of the Food Department told The Pioneer on Tuesday that, "In a joint effort both by Central and State Government, they have sanctioned Rs 15 crore and Delhi Government has allotted Rs 5.5 crore respectively for the enhancement of Government's drugs testing laboratory. It is for the first time, a comprehensive, improvement is being done."
Both Government labs are located at Lawrence Road in North West Delhi in the national Capital. The food lab is supposed to carry out various physical, chemical, micro-biological and pesticide residues tests of the food items. The food laboratory carries out tests as per standards laid down under Food Safety & Standard Act-2006, Rules & Regulations 2011.
"Currently, chemists in the department are able to carry out the tests related to chemical analysis. The testing equipments in the micro-biology as well as the Pesticide Residue are lying idle," said the official.
On the other hand, the drug lab carries inspection on fake medicines, to analysis the outcome of the drugs usage and nature of medicine and also to check the toxins in the medicine, if there is any.
Besides, the Delhi Government has initiated the process to fill up the vacant posts of the chemists, food analyst, micro-biologists, drugs analysts and other staff. "Over 3,000 drugs testing can be conducted, ones the drug lab is fully functional", the senior official added.
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