The testing of food groups conducted by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has received international recognition. India's National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has granted 2-year mutual accreditation for food technology.

Earlier, Nepal's National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory (NFFRL) received international recognition for 386 test parameters. This time NFFRL has given recognition to 814 test parameters.

Director General of Food Technology and Quality Control Department Sanjeev Kumar Karna said that after getting recognition from India, it will now be recognized worldwide for export. It is an international organization, it has 6 regional organizations. Being recognized by any one of the 6 organizations is recognized all over the world," Director General Karna said, "It is a great achievement for Nepal, it proves to be important in exports." 

According to the department, NFFRL started getting recognition from 27 chemical parameters in 2012. In 2015, 22 chemical and 17 microbiological parameters were recognized from 39 parameters. Mohankrishna Maharjan, information officer of the department, said that in 2019, 78 chemical and 24 microbiological, 102 test parameters were approved by NABL.

In 2023, 245 chemical and 41 microbiological were recognized by NABL for 286 test parameters. During the same period, Maharjan said that 350 parameters including 288 chemical and 62 microbiological parameters have received certificates from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India. 

There was a problem of hassles and obstacles in the customs during the export, now the export will be easy with the certificate issued by food technology: Sanjeev Kumar Karna, Director General, Food Technology and Quality Control Department

'On the basis of the MoU between food and the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India on 22 Chait 2081, an order has been issued to give recognition for import purposes in India. In the first phase, India has decided to accredit the test reports of 8 different types of food items, juice, jam, jelly, pickle, candy, ready noodles, ginger, fresh vegetables and fruits," Maharjan said. "By 2024, there were a total of 386 analysis parameters within the accreditation area of Nepal's laboratories. In the year 2025, by expanding the department, 672 chemical parameters and 142 microbiological parameters have been expanded to 814 test parameter accreditation areas. This is a milestone for the country.' 

At present, when exporting food items, industrialists are facing problems in the name of quality at the customs checkpoint. During the export, the goods have been stuck in the quality certificate dispute. Similarly, the exported goods had to be stopped at customs and reached Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow and other areas for quality testing. The department claims that international recognition of 814 parameters of 10 food groups will end the complicated process in customs. 

'22 food items include bakery, beverages, confectionery, food grains, edible oil, fruits, herbs, honey, sugar, tea and coffee, meat, water, animal food and other food items. Now Food ensures the quality of the product. The certificate will be provided by doing batch verification,' said Director General Karna, 'based on that, exports will be easy. Obstacles at customs will end.' 

According to Karna, after being recognized by NABL, it has been easily exported to America, Japan, UK, UAE and other countries. He said that even though some laws made it difficult to export to India, correspondence has already been done. According to the Customs Department, in the last fiscal year 2081/82, the highest value of goods worth 2.77 billion 3 crores has been exported. This is 81.80 percent more than the previous financial year.