MADURAI: An awareness programme for food testing laboratories was organised in Madurai today- on May 20th 2024- by inviting senior government officials and experts from food testing accreditation agencies.
This awareness programme was organised jointly by the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Madurai and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), at TN Chamber in Kamarajar Salai in Madurai today.
“Why accreditation is important must be understood by everyone in the business and industry. We have so many national level bodies like NAAC for educational institutions, NABH for hospitals and NABL for testing and calibration labs. Accreditation brings credibility, competency standards to your company, to your unit etc. It will also get more funding possibility from banks because NABL accreditation enhances your trustworthiness and credibility,” Dr.Gunasekaran Paramasamy, former Vice-Chancellor of VIT Bhopal University and Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadu, has said in his opening inaugural address in Madurai today.
He had alerted the food testing labs and food operators to be aware about chemicals in products used in food products’ preparation, residues of pesticides and agriculture products etc.
Among those who spoke about NABL accreditation and its benefits include Mr.R.Srikanth, Director, QCI-NABL Regional Office in Bengaluru, Mr.S.Sukumar, Director (Operations), Hi-Tech Arai Pvt Ltd-Madurai, Mr.K.Balasubramanian, Joint Director of FSSAI-New Delhi, Mr.Soundirapandian, Deputy Director, NABL and Dr.R.Vidyalakshmi, Professor and Head, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM)-Thanjavur, Ms.V.Sangavi, executive officer, NABL and Dr.R.Anand, Scientist C, Spices Board-Tuticorin.
Dr.N.Jegatheesan, president, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has said in his welcome address that the TN Chamber is celebrating its 100th year (centenary year) this year in 2024 and the chamber has 5,500 members.
Among those who were present at this meeting NABL accreditation awareness meeting include chamber secretary S.Sridhar, chamber past president Needhi Mohan and others. The topics discussed covered about NABL and accreditation process, benefits if accreditation and regulatory requirements, enhancing agro-food product quality, quality standards for millet food products, global spice trade, NABL schemes available etc.
