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FSSAI approved laboratories refusing to test food samples for low fee
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Tuesday, 27 December, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Irum Khan, Mumbai
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Several laboratories approved by the FSSAI for testing of imported and domestic food items have not yet started functioning. These labs are unhappy with the meagre compensation being offered by the body to them. This was stated by a source from a lab that has been empanelled by the Authority.
“The FSSAI is paying us merely Rs 3,000 for testing of an imported food sample and Rs 1,000 for domestic samples. With this amount we cannot afford to test samples so we have decided not to do it,” the source said.
For testing of imported food items the required fee is normally deposited by the food business operators with the Authority, which in turn is paid to the laboratory.
Parameters
The Act clearly specifies the parameters needed to be tested. These include quality and safety. Quality is generally related to nutrition content of the product and includes chemical analysis. Safety involves tests for pesticide residue, heavy metals, aflatoxin and microbiological analysis.
“The market cost for this type of testing package would be Rs 10,000, but the FSSAI has not taken that into consideration. No commercial lab would be interested in testing at the cost,” he added.
It was understood that the FSSAI disclosed the costs to labs post their approval. Also, there were no deliberations in this regard.
“The amount paid by the FSSAI will not even cover the direct costs. The instruments itself cost Rs 1.5 crore. Hence, reputed companies would not venture into these tests,” said another source.
Tendering sought
Ideally, the FSSAI should have come out with a tender in this regard, came another opinion from the industry.
However, there is no denial of the fact that the Authority is grappling with lack of funds. Earlier FDA informed F&B News that the microbiological tests needed for testing honey contamination could not be initiated as there were no funds available. However, V N Gaur, interim chairman and the CEO of FSSAI, had assured that “Food Safety” would be a separate head in the Union Budget and some funds were anticipated to flow in.
Imported items
Time required for testing imported food items is another concern. In India, it takes minimum five days. Besides, there is no backup infrastructure like cold chains leading to spoilage of product. It is suggested that the system in Japan can be easily adopted by India as that delivers results within a day or two.
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