The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a strict order mandating that all referral laboratories adhere to their National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) scope of accreditation when testing referral food samples. This order was issued on February 25, 2025.
This directive is aimed at ensuring quality and regulatory compliance in food testing procedures.
Key Points of the Order
Legal Requirement
As per clause 9.1(a) of the Food Safety and Standards (Recognition and Notification of Laboratories) Regulations, 2018, food laboratory shall perform all tests in the approved premises as per the valid scope of recognition.
NABL Accreditation Compliance
All referral laboratories are required to strictly adhere to their NABL scope of accreditation, which is based on ISO 17025 standards.
Laboratories must only test food products and parameters that are explicitly covered under their NABL scope.
Designated Parameters
All FSSAI notified referral laboratories under section 43(2) of the FSS Act, 2006, are instructed to test only the parameters specified by the Designated Officers (DOs) and Authorised Officers (AOs) in Form VIA.
This directive is expected to have a significant impact on the operations of referral laboratories, requiring them to meticulously follow their accreditation guidelines. It also reinforces the FSSAI’s commitment to safeguarding public health through rigorous food safety testing.
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