Intertek Food Laboratory in India accredited for agricultural product testing

The laboratory, which provides services to the agri-export community, will now be able to provide the mandatory certifications for a variety of agricultural products being exported from India

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New Delhi: Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has announced its accreditation by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of its food testing laboratory in Hyderabad. The laboratory, which provides services to the agri-export community, will now be able to provide the mandatory certifications for a variety of agricultural products being exported from India.

APEDA was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act to provide services to the agri-export community. All products being exported have to obtain certification from an APEDA approved laboratory to ensure that the products comply with food safety requirements, including analysis of residues of chemicals pesticides, drugs and antibiotics and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Speaking on this announcement, Mr.\ Siyaram Tiwari, Intertek’s Head of Food Services in India, said, “Food manufacturers and food business operators now request certifications from APEDA approved labs. We are delighted to receive this accreditation which is a significant development for our laboratory. Intertek has worked closely with the Government of India for a very long time and we are pleased to continue and strengthen this relationship. Our global testing and certification experience will ensure that products meet the stringent quality, health, environmental and safety standards that have been set by APEDA.”

According to recent independent research, the Indian food industry is poised for huge growth, increasing its contribution to world food trade every year. The food sector has emerged as a high-growth and high-profit sector due to its immense potential for value addition, particularly within the food processing industry.

Intertek’s food laboratory in Hyderabad has approval to provide the required certifications for a wide variety of products exported from India, including fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, cereals (including rice wheat, maize and associated products), dairy products, nuts and oil seeds (including groundnuts and associated products) and other processed foods.