Central team in Nagaland for rapid appraisal of strengthening food testing system

Dimapur: A central team from National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) on Wednesday visited the FSSAI notified State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL) in Kohima for rapid appraisal of Strengthening of Food Testing System including provision of Mobile Testing Labs (SOFTEL) in the country in collaboration with the Food division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The team comprising Prof. VK Tiwari, Dean; Dr. Ravinder Kumar, CMO; and Dr. Ramesh Gandotra, ARO; is visiting the facility from March 21 to the 23rd, informed an update from the directorate of Health and Family Welfare department.

Commissioner Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, and Commissioner of Food Safety, Y Kikheto Sema interacted with visiting central team at the SPHL and acknowledged the FSSAI for providing required logistics to upgrade the food laboratory, enabling it to obtain an NABL accreditation and making it one of the few food laboratories in the Northeast, an update on Wednesday said.

Once the ongoing infrastructure development and logistics installations are completed, the laboratory will be able to function optimally and may also assist other neighbouring states, it said.

The official thanked the visiting team for its effort towards strengthening the food testing ecosystem in the state and apprised them of the need for setting up another food-testing facility, preferably in Tuensang district, so that it can cater to eight districts — Mon, Longleng, Tuensang, Noklak, Shamator, Kiphire, Zunheboto, and Mokokchung.

Presently, the state has one functional Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) and two Modified Food Safety on Wheels (MFSW), which will be functional shortly. However, the visiting team was requested to highlight the Centre about the need for four or more MFSW in the state for better coverage, citing logistic issues from one district headquarters to another due to difficult geographical terrain.

“This step is a significant milestone in ensuring the safety and quality of food products and it demonstrates the government’s commitment to public health and safety,” the update said, while requesting all stakeholders to extend cooperation and support in this endeavour.