Lok Sabha Question No. 4373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Food Testing Labs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4373 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH MARCH, 2020

## FOOD TESTING LABS

## 4373. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) the details of food testing laboratories which can detect/test the content of Trans - fat in the food effectively in the country, State/UT -wise;
- (b) the number of laboratories set up/proposed to be set up to e nsure food quality during the last three years, State/UT - wise especially in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan; and
- (c) the time by which the said laboratories are likely to be set up?

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

- (a): As informed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), at present, ther 111 Food Laboratories which can detect /test the content of Trans - fat in the food in the country. The details of these f ood testing laboratories,State/UT - wise, is at Annexure - I .
- (b)  to  (c):State  Food  Testing  Laboratories  (SFTLs) are  set  up  by  respective  State/UT Governments. However, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is implementin a Central  Sector  Scheme  for  ' Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including Provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs '  since  2016 - 17.  Under  the  Scheme,  39  SFTLs  of  29 States/UTs  have  been  taken  up  for  upgradation.  This  includes  upgradation  of  one SFTL  in Punjab  (Kharar),  2  SFTLs  in  Tamil  Nadu  (Chennai  &  Madurai)  and  3  SFTLS  in  Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jodhpur & Udaipur).

Also, FSSAI recognizes and notifies Food Testing Laboratories under Section 43(1) Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made therein to analyse the food samples ensuring quality of food testing in the country. During the last three y 2017- 18, 2018 - 19, 2019 -2020 (till date), 68 Food testing laboratories have been recognized notified under Sectio n 43(1). Details of these laboratories, State/UT - wise, are at Annexure - II .

……………….

Details  of      Food  testing  Laboratories,  State/UT  wise,  for  detection  of  Trans-Fat  in  food products

| S. No.   | State/UT                           | Number of Laboratories   |
|----------|------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 1 2      | Pradesh                            | 03                       |
|          | Andhra GNCT of Delhi Gujarat       |                          |
| 3        |                                    | 16                       |
|          |                                    | 05                       |
| 4 5 6    | Haryana Himachal Pradesh Karnataka | 12                       |
|          |                                    | 01 06                    |
| 7        | Kerala Maharashtra                 | 07                       |
| 8 9      |                                    | 23                       |
|          | Punjab Rajasthan                   | 01 02 20                 |
| 10       | Nadu                               |                          |
| 11 12    | Tamil Telangana                    |                          |
|          | Pradesh                            | 04                       |
| 13 14    | Uttar                              | 05                       |
| 15       | Uttarakhand West Bengal            | 01 05                    |
|          | Total                              | 111                      |

Annexure - II

The  details  of  the food  testing laboratories,  State /UT - wise,  notified  and  recognised  by FSSAI during last three years (1 st April, 2017 till date)

| S. No.   | State/UT        |   No. of laboratories |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh  |                    05 |
| 2.       | GNCT of Delhi   |                    08 |
| 3.       | Gujarat         |                    07 |
| 4.       | Haryana         |                    03 |
| 5.       | Jammu & Kashmir |                    01 |
| 6.       | Jharkhand       |                    01 |
| 7.       | Karnataka       |                    02 |
| 8.       | Kerala          |                    09 |
| 9.       | Madhya Pradesh  |                    03 |
| 10.      | Maharashtra     |                    09 |
| 11.      | Rajasthan       |                    02 |
| 12.      | Tamil Nadu      |                    04 |
| 13.      | Telangana       |                    04 |
| 14.      | Tripura         |                    01 |
| 15.      | Uttar Pradesh   |                    04 |
| 16.      | West Bengal     |                    05 |
|          | Total           |                    68 |