Nagaland government seeks to strengthen food testing system

March 23, 2023 20 Views No Comment

Dimapur, March 23 (MExN): Nagaland’s Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Commissioner Secretary Y Kikheto Sema, met with the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) team led by Prof VK Tiwari at the State Public Health Laboratory (State Food Laboratory) on Wednesday. The visiting team will be conducting a “Rapid Appraisal of Strengthening of Food Testing system including provision of Mobile Testing Labs (SOFTEL)” in collaboration with the Food division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (GoI) from the March 21 to 23.

The team consists of Prof VK Tiwari, Dean, Dr Ravinder Kumar, CMO, and Dr Ramesh Gandotra, ARO, according to a press release received here.

The State Food Laboratory was upgraded with the help of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), GoI. The FSSAI helped in providing all the necessary logistics to enable the Laboratory to obtain NABL accreditation, making it one of the few food laboratories in the Northeastern state. The Commissioner Food Safety expressed his appreciation for the FSSAI’s support and ongoing infrastructure development, which he believes will enable the Laboratory to function optimally and assist other neighboring states, the release stated.

The Commissioner is said to have expressed his gratitude to the visiting NIHFW team for contributing to the Strengthening of food Testing Ecosystem. He informed them of the need for another Food Testing facility, preferably in Tuensang District, which could cater to eight districts, namely Mon, Longleng, Tuensang, Noklak, Shamator, Kiphire, Zunheboto, and Mokochung district.

Currently, the state has one functional Food Safety On Wheels (FSW) and two new Modified Food Safety on Wheels (MFSW) provided by GoI. However, due to the geographical terrain, where the distance from one district headquarter to another takes time unlike that of the mainland, the Commissioner has requested the team to highlight the need for four or more MFSWs to the GoI for better coverage of the state, the release stated.

The effort to strengthen the state’s food testing system is a significant milestone in ensuring the safety and quality of food products, demonstrating the government’s commitment to public health and safety. However, the department alone cannot achieve and sustain it, the release stated while requesting all stakeholders to cooperate and support their endeavors.