Srinagar: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani on Monday reviewed the functioning of the Food Laboratory, Kashmir, and assessed measures for strengthening food testing infrastructure and capacity in Jammu and Kashmir.
During his visit to Srinagar, Punhani inspected various sections of the laboratory, including the microbiology, chemical and HEE divisions, and interacted with technical staff.
He later chaired a review meeting attended by officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), including the State Drug Controller, Joint Commissioner Food Safety, Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir and laboratory officials from Srinagar and Jammu.
During the meeting, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, J&K, presented the laboratory’s analytical capabilities, testing performance, infrastructure, manpower position and plans for expansion of food testing facilities across the Union Territory.
Officials informed the meeting that the Food Laboratory, Kashmir, is an FSSAI-notified and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited facility equipped with advanced instruments, including GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS. The laboratory currently has NABL accreditation for 354 parameters, including 77 quality parameters and 277 safety parameters.
The meeting was informed that the laboratory analysed 11,479 samples in 2023-24, 9,938 samples in 2024-25 and 6,722 samples in 2025-26. Of these, 440, 266 and 381 samples respectively were found to be non-conforming.
Officials said steps have been initiated to expand the laboratory’s testing scope to 3,500 parameters by March 31, 2027, covering commodities such as milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, cereals, oils, fats and Indian sweets. The long-term target is to expand testing coverage to 5,000 parameters.
The Commissioner FDA highlighted infrastructure constraints and shortages of technical manpower, chemicals, certified reference materials and other consumables. He sought FSSAI’s support for approval of proposals related to manpower hiring and financial assistance for construction of new food laboratory buildings in Srinagar and Jammu.
According to officials, the Food Laboratory, Kashmir, currently functions from a shared Drug and Food Laboratory complex with limited space for modern equipment and dedicated testing sections.
The department also proposed establishing an integrated food testing laboratory network across Jammu and Kashmir by utilising facilities available at institutions such as Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) and the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), supported by additional technical manpower and infrastructure.
Punhani expressed satisfaction with the functioning of the laboratory and encouraged officials to continue efforts aimed at strengthening food testing and food safety systems in the Union Territory.