The laboratory is being constructed as a part of the country´s compliance to World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions. Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) has announced that it will bring the lab into operations in two years. [break]
Although the country upgraded the standard of its only food lab in Kathmandu last year, lack of sophisticated laboratory was compelling the government to rely on the Indian laboratories while accepting food items imported from India and other countries.
“The construction works has already started and we will complete the setup works in two years,” Upendra Raya, chief of the Department´s Biratnagar Office, told myrepublica.com.
For the construction and setup, the government is investing Rs 47.10 million and importing the laboratory equipments from Germany and Japan.
“We have already initiated process to procure waste disposal plant, water treatment plant, incubation plant and other equipments,” said Raya.
The laboratory will also have capacity to test micro-organisms present in food items.
In the absence of the food lab, Nepali exporters are presently required to test their biscuits, ghee, noodles, tea, honey, ginger, large cardamom and some hundred other food items in Kolkata or Patna of India. As those laboratories take at least a week to issue lab certification, traders invariably suffer a huge loss due to damages of perishable agro-items.
“The new laboratory will free traders from those losses. Also the cost of test will go down,” said Raya, adding that its operations will also help check entry of substandard and adulterated food items.
The laboratory will also cater services to the traders from Mechi to Narayani zone, the central and eastern export hub of the country. The establishment of the new laboratory will also enable Nepal to enjoy standard accreditation with India and other countries.
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