Centre sanctions Rs 8.05 crore to provide state-of-the-art equipment
Once the upgradation is done, samples relating to oil, pulses, food, including from restaurants, can be analysed in a foolproof manner.
Hyderabad: The State Food Laboratory (SFL), which has been waiting for an overall revamp of facilities for carrying out sophisticated tests on a variety of food items, is all set to get a major facelift with the Centre sanctioning Rs 8.05 crore to provide state-of-the-art equipment.
As the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rolled out Central Sector Scheme (2017-18) for strengthening the food-testing system across the country, the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) entered into a memorandum of understanding with it.
Though FSSAI has already sanctioned the amount a few months ago, the SFL is yet to receive it. Lab officials are hopeful of getting the amount after FSSAI examines the details of high-end equipment that would be required for the lab.
The lab is getting the amount under the Central sector scheme launched by the Centre which allocated Rs 500 crore for 46 food labs across the country.
Food Safety Commissioner Rajeshwar Tiwari confirmed that the FSSAI was providing funds for the upgradation of the lab at Nacharam on all fronts.
A senior official said if the lab was equipped with the new testing machines, the staff would be able to carry out analysis of samples more effectively. Samples relating to oil, pulses etc., could be analysed in a foolproof manner, he explained.
A request was also made to FSSAI to sanction Rs 50 lakh as a grant in aid towards sub-component for renovating the lab before installing the new equipment. The lab personnel are facing problems in conducting an analysis of over 4,400 food samples received from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the last few months.
During summer, the lab will be flooded with samples of fruits especially mangoes to examine the chemicals used for ripening process. “Apart from the upgrading the lab, there is an urgent need to fill up the vacant posts,” the official added.
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