AP to get its State Food Lab by August

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh will get its own state food laboratory in Visakhapatnam at an estimated cost of nearly ₹25 crore by August, after a gap of nearly 10 years.

In addition, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also ready to sanction two more state food labs at Tirupati and Guntur, once the AP government takes up civil works for buildings where they would be established.

Centre has already released nearly ₹13 crore for setting up the state food lab at Visakhapatnam.

Principal secretary (Health) M.T. Krishna Babu issued an order recently to establish the state food laboratory in the premises of Regional Public Health Laboratory in Visakhapatnam under the centrally sponsored scheme.

Institute of Preventive Medicine had entered into a memorandum of understanding with FSSAI for the lab. AP government released ₹14.22 crore in a 60:40 cost sharing ratio between the centre and state for setting up the lab in Visakhapatnam. FSSAI then released the first instalment of ₹8 crore – ₹4 crore for setting up basic lab equipment, ₹3.5 crore for microbiological lab and ₹50 lakh for civil works.

In the aftermath of undivided AP’s bifurcation, the State Food Laboratory went to Telangana in 2014. AP has had no state food lab so far. As per provisions of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, AP can avail the services of State Food Lab in Telangana up to June, 2024 for a period of 10 years. In case AP fails to set up its State Food Lab by that time, it has to pay ₹80 lakh per month to test its food samples at a cost of ₹14,000 per sample, unlike earlier practice of charging only ₹6,000 for testing each sample.

State food safety authorities disclosed that basic works for setting up the lab in a 12,000 square feet area have started. The microbiology lab costing ₹8 crore will be set up followed by installation of high-end equipment in a year. Nearly 90 technical and non-technical posts are to be filled up with those hailing from AP and working in TS. Some of them will be shifted to the lab on deputation and promotion to fill up sanctioned vacant posts for making the lab functional.

The upcoming lab will need to get recognition from National Accreditation Board for Testing Calibration Laboratories and also FSSAI in due course of time.

Authorities say the main objective of setting up the state food lab is to test food samples for adulteration and initiate penal action against those involved in case the food is adulterated and unsafe for general public. The lab will also test food to be served during VIP visits for safety.

Institute of Preventive Medicine director N. Poornachandra Rao said, “We are going to set up a state food lab in Visakhapatnam within a few months. We have started civil works for the lab with the funds released by the centre. This will help us test food samples promptly and protect the health of general public as also VIPs in the state.”