In a significant move to strengthen Nepal’s food export capabilities, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has upgraded its food testing laboratories, expanding its accreditation to cover a wider range of food safety and quality parameters. The initiative is expected to ease the export of Nepali food products by ensuring their compliance with international standards.
The DFTQC’s National Food Laboratory has received an integrated accreditation certificate from India’s National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This milestone allows DFTQC to test an additional 680 food-related parameters, now formally recognized by Indian authorities—significantly increasing the scope of quality certification for export-bound products.
Previously, the FSSAI had approved DFTQC’s testing capabilities for only eight food categories, including fruit juice, jam, jelly, pickles, ginger, candies, noodles, and fresh produce. Under the new arrangement, that number has jumped to 22 types of foods, opening more avenues for Nepali products to enter the Indian market and beyond.
Speaking at a press meet, Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for the DFTQC, stated that in the past year alone, the department has extended its scope to include 814 total parameters—672 chemical-related and 142 microbiological. Among these, the laboratory can now test for 123 types of chemical residues, 11 types of food coloring agents, and 8 types of aflatoxins, which are harmful toxins found in various crops.
DFTQC’s journey in food lab accreditation began in 2012, when it first received NABL recognition for testing 27 parameters. By 2024, this number had grown to 286, and with the latest expansion, it now stands at 814 parameters, according to Director General Sanjeev Kumar Karn.
“This recognition from India’s top regulatory bodies will enhance the credibility of Nepali food exports and make the export process smoother and faster,” Karn remarked. He expressed optimism that this move will significantly promote the international competitiveness of Nepal’s local food industries, many of which rely on access to Indian and third-country markets.
The upgraded testing capacity is a vital step toward establishing trust, transparency, and traceability in Nepal’s food supply chain—key components in meeting global food safety requirements.
