The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has updated its list of approved laboratories capable of testing fortificants in Fortified Rice (FR), Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK), and Vitamin-Mineral Premix for FRK. This order dated August 23, 2024, supersedes the previous order dated July 8, 2024.
This update ensures consumers have access to safe and nutritious fortified rice products. The revised list includes laboratories with valid accreditation for testing iron, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B9, essential nutrients added to rice during fortification.
The list includes laboratories with NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation.
Stakeholders are advised to refer to the FSSAI website or the NABL website to verify the latest accreditation status of laboratories before submitting samples for testing.
The following are additions made to the list:
I. Laboratories capable of testing fortificants in Fortified Rice (FR)
- Eurofins Analytical Services India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka,
- CVR Labs Private Limited, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and
- Nawal Analytical Labs India Private Limited, Hosur, Tamil Nadu
II. Laboratories capable of testing fortificants in Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK)
- Eurofins Analytical Services India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka,
- Bangalore Analytical Research Center Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka,
- Nawal Analytical Labs India Private Limited, Hosur, Tamil Nadu and
- Avon Food Lab Pvt Ltd. , New Delhi
III. Laboratories capable of testing fortificants in Vitamin-Mineral Premix for Fortified
Rice Kernel
- Avon Food Lab Pvt Ltd. , New Delhi
Fortified rice plays a vital role in addressing micronutrient deficiencies, particularly prevalent among vulnerable populations. By ensuring accurate testing of fortificant levels, the FSSAI promotes:
- Consumer protection by verifying the presence of essential nutrients in fortified rice products.
- Quality control by encouraging producers to meet fortification standards.
- Public health by promoting the consumption of nutritious food.
