Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) 13.07.2024, Sabour will now be able to test the presence of pesticides and other harmful substances in fruits and vegetables. Food Development Centre (FDC) of BAU has received accreditation from National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for Testing and Certification Laboratory (TCL). With this new certification, BAU Sabour will now provide its food testing services not only in Bihar but across the country, mainly covering the eastern part.
NABL is a constituent board of Quality Council of India which is an autonomous body established under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The establishment of NABL laboratory will boost the export potential of Bihar and enhance the international reputation of its agricultural products.
Bihar is the third largest producer of vegetables and seventh largest producer of fruits in India, famous for its potatoes, onions, brinjal and cauliflower. It is a leader in litchi production and a significant producer of pineapple, mango, banana and guava. Despite this, its export share is minimal. To leverage the export potential of its fruits and vegetables, it is important to meet international quality standards. NABL certification ensures high quality and safety in sync with global market requirements.
Famous for its diverse agricultural produce, Bihar has successfully exported its GI-tagged Jardalu mangoes to the United Kingdom. The juicy and aromatic mangoes were packed and treated at APEDA’s Packhouse in Lucknow under this initiative taken by APEDA in collaboration with the Bihar government, Indian High Commission and Invest India. Bihar is a significant producer of litchi, especially in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali and Samastipur, and is also known for mango varieties like Malda and Jardalu, which are grown mainly in Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur. Additionally, Bihar has extensive banana cultivation in Hajipur, a unique production of makhana in the Mithila region and important vegetable cultivation including cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and brinjal in Nalanda, Patna and Muzaffarpur.
With rising consumer awareness and improved living standards, the demand for quality food has become increasingly important in India. The government has also increased food safety regulations, emphasizing the importance of safe foods. With this new certification, BAU Sabour will now provide its food testing services across the country, mainly covering the eastern part. TCL has the unique capability to test food safety parameters such as trace levels of thirty pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables and their products with high-end laboratory infrastructure. TCL at BAU Sabour is equipped with high-end equipment. This is the first attempt at NABL accreditation covering only pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables and their products. However, soon the Testing and Certification Laboratory of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour will expand the scope of accreditation covering nutritional profiling, antibiotics, heavy metal contaminants and other microbiological parameters. University scientists Dr. Mohammad Waseem Siddiqui, Dr. Shamsher Ahmed and Dr. Pritam Ganguly, while working as Quality Manager and Technical Manager, played a key role in getting the Testing and Certification Laboratory of Food Development Centre NABL accreditation. Food Development Centre was established in the Department of Food Science and Post Harvest Technology of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur and was funded by the Government of Bihar under Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) scheme. The objective of setting up FDC is to promote and boost the food processing and preservation sector within the state, as well as to provide assistance to food producers and entrepreneurs.
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. D. R. Singh added, “The testing and certification laboratory at the Food Development Centre of BAU Sabour will enable farmers, entrepreneurs and fruit and vegetable industries to evaluate and certify their products at all stages of growth and production. We also plan to obtain further approvals and recognition from APEDA and FSSAI in the near future.”
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