New Delhi: Central food safety regulator FSSAI has notified 82 laboratories in India for testing food samples as it takes step to ensure compliance of standards by various products in the market in the wake of Maggi controversy.
"The FSSAI has notified 82 NABL accredited laboratories... for the purposes of carrying out the analysis of food samples taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made there under," the regulator said in its order updated on its website.
It further added: "The recognition of these laboratories shall be valid from the date of notification in the official gazette till further orders by the FSSAI or the currency of NABL(National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation of the laboratory whichever is earlier".
In the list, the Northern region has the highest number of NABL accredited labs at 28, followed by the Western region with 25 and the Southern region with 24 labs. The Eastern region has 5 labs in the order.
FSSAI had ordered all state food commissioners to inspect and evaluate all packaged products available in markets across the country in the wake of Maggi controversy.
The directions were given by FSSAI to the state food safety commissioners in a meeting earlier this month.
On June 5, the FSSAI had banned Nestle's Maggi saying it was 'unsafe and hazardous' after tests found presence of lead and Monosodium glutamate above permissible limits.
Nestle India had also withdrawn the instant noodles brand from the market. The company today said that it is in the process of destroying Maggi worth Rs 320 crore.
After the Maggi episode FSSAI had ordered testing of noodles, pastas and macaroni brands such as Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai sold and manufactured by seven companies, to check compliance of norms.
