Lok Sabha Question No. 4721 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: Shortage of Staff in Food Testing Labs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4721 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd MARCH, 2018

## SHORTAGE OF STAFF IN FOOD TESTING LABS

## 4721. SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  Food  Testing  Labs  in  the country  including  Uttar  Pradesh  are  facing problem  in quality  testing  of  food  items available  in  the  market  due  to  shortage  of staff  and  insufficient infrastructure;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

- (c)  the  number  of  sanctioned  and present  staff  strength  in  Food  Testing Laboratories  in  the country including for Uttar Pradesh as well as the steps being taken by the Government to fill the vacantposts; and
- (d) the number of laboratories functioning in the country and the steps taken for upgradation/modernisation of these laboratories?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)& (b): At  present  there  are  213  primary  food    testing  laboratories,  both    State/P laboratories and Private laboratories, of which  161  are National Accreditation Board for and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)  accredited. Besides there are 18 Appellate food testing labs  which  are  also  NABL  accredited.    Thus,  while  overall  there  is  adequate  quality  t infrastructure available in the country, in respect of some State/Public laboratories, in survey conducted by Food S afety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) during 2013 - 14, it emerged that there was need to upgrade these laboratories both in terms of testing infras and availability of trained scientific and technical manpower for food testing.

- (c): There are 62 State/Public Food Laboratories functioning under the State/U Governments. As these are funded and maintained by the State/UT Governments,   informati about  the  sanctioned  and  present  staff  strength  and  steps  being  taken  by  respective  St G overnments to fill up the vacancies in such State/Public labs is not maintained by FSSAI.
- (d): As on date there are 161 NABL accredited food testing laboratories, including 10 food laboratories in the country which have been notified by FSSAI for pr imary testing of food products. Besides, there are 18 referral food laboratories in the country for appellate Food laboratories under the State governments were brought under the FSSAI ambit, from erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulteration Regi me, under the transitory provisions contained in section 98 of FSS Act, 2006. Out of these 62 functional state food laboratories, 10 st laboratories are NABL accredited and have been notified by the FSSAI as stated above.

A  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  'Strengthening  of  Food  Testing  System  in  the  Country Including Provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs' has been rolled out by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with an outlay of Rs. 481.95 Crore from 2016 - 17 to 2018 -19.  This  Scheme  inter  alia  envisages  upgradation  of  45  state  food  laboratories,  subj readiness of the State Governments. So far, a total of 23 state food laboratories of 22 S have been taken up for upgradation and a grant of Rs.70. 85 crore has been sanctioned/released.