National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories Launches India’s First Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories

Key Highlights:

• National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) launched India’s first accreditation scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories.
• The scheme operates under the Integrated Assessment Programme.
• It aims to expand access to reliable, quality-assured, and internationally benchmarked food testing services closer to communities.
• The launch took place at the 'Gunvatta Samanvaya – A Multilateral MoU Exchange Ceremony'.
• The initiative is expected to strengthen food safety surveillance and enhance consumer confidence.

Detailed Insights:

• The scheme extends accredited food testing beyond conventional laboratory settings, improving access to quality testing.
• It supports faster regulatory interventions by making testing services more accessible and efficient.
• A Multilateral MoU Exchange also occurred, reinforcing efforts towards greater regulatory convergence and coordinated assessments.
• This framework seeks to reduce duplication in assessment processes and promote mutual recognition.
• The initiative contributes to strengthening India’s quality infrastructure and promoting quality-led practices for India’s growth journey towards 2047.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL): A constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), providing accreditation for testing and calibration laboratories.
• Quality Council of India (QCI): An autonomous body under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), promoting quality standards across various sectors.
• Accreditation: Formal recognition by an authoritative body that a certification body, laboratory, or inspection body is competent to carry out specific tasks.