As per media reports, Krishna Digital Material Testing Laboratory, Bhopal, and QTTL Lab are the two laboratories suspended by FSSAI. The FSSAI conducted surprise audits of the two laboratories in accordance with Regulation 8(1)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards (Recognition and Notification of Laboratories) Regulations 2018.
According to the sources, the goal of the audits was to monitor and evaluate their operations. After reviewing all of the records and observations of the surprise audit teams, it was discovered that the laboratories were engaging in practices that were not permitted by the Food Safety and Standards Rules and Regulations. Food testing and analysis are critical components of the food safety ecosystem because they ensure that the food is safe to consume.
The FSSAI recognizes and notifies food laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories in this regard. NABL is an accreditation body with an accreditation system that adheres to ISO/IEC 17011. NABL offers voluntary accreditation to testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, medical testing laboratories, proficiency testing providers, and other organizations' reference material producers.
NABL was founded with the goal of providing a conformity assessment body scheme to the government, industry associations, and industry in general accreditation. The FSSAI notifies NABL-accredited food laboratories and research institutions. Food analysts must be accredited before they can conduct sample analysis.
It may be recalled that the FSSAI is on a mission to streamline and clean up testing processes across the country. It suspended 13 food laboratories for six months a few weeks ago for failing to upload regulatory food samples tested there to the INFLONET website.
Few days back, FSSAI issued a notice regarding approval of accreditation bodies by the food authority to accredit food testing laboratories and urged such bodies to apply.
