The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to create at least one state-of-the-art food laboratory in each metropolitan city in the country. FSSAI already owns a lab in Ghaziabad.
Kolkata, Chennai and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) area in Mumbai will have a state-of-the-art food lab each in the next three years.
FSSAI has also initiated a programme to upgrade the lab network and bring in technology to create an information technology (IT) network for the same.
FSSAI has also planned to establish a network of mobile testing labs as well to bridge the gaps in the rural areas.
Further an international centre is being created at the Import Inspection Council office premise in Mumbai. This is due to an association between FSSAI and Global Food Safety Partnership under World Bank which is providing equipment worth Rs 18 crore.
All labs operational across the country will be connected to the Indian Food Laboratory Network (INFoLNET). This system will be a part of FSSAI’s core information technology (IT) systems, such as licensing and registration (FLRS), import clearance (FICS), food safety training and certification (FoSTAC), etc.