The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), launched India’s first-of-its-kind Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories under the Integrated Assessment Programme at the ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya – A Multilateral MoU Exchange Ceremony’ held at Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi.

The initiative aims to expand access to reliable, quality-assured and internationally benchmarked food testing services closer to communities. The event also witnessed a Multilateral MoU Exchange among participating organisations, reinforcing efforts towards greater regulatory convergence, coordinated assessments and a more integrated and efficient quality infrastructure.

Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, along with senior officials from QCI, NABL, regulatory authorities and commodity boards associated with the Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF), attended the event.

The Accreditation Scheme, developed by NABL, establishes a framework for mobile food testing laboratories to provide reliable, quality-assured and internationally benchmarked testing services closer to communities. By extending accredited food testing beyond conventional laboratory settings, the initiative is expected to strengthen food safety surveillance, improve access to quality testing, support faster regulatory interventions and enhance consumer confidence.

The Multilateral MoU Exchange brought participating organisations together to reaffirm their commitment towards coordinated assessments, regulatory harmonisation and strengthening the Integrated Assessment Framework. The initiative seeks to reduce duplication in assessment processes, promote mutual recognition, improve regulatory efficiency and facilitate ease of doing business while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance.

Addressing the gathering, Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, underscored the importance of embedding quality across the entire value chain. He stated that initiatives such as ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’ would contribute to India’s growth journey towards 2047 by promoting quality-led practices.

Chairperson, NABL, Dr Sandip Shah, highlighted the significance of the accreditation scheme and the Integrated Assessment Framework, emphasising the role of collaborative assessment processes and credible institutions in supporting India’s development.

Secretary General, Quality Council of India (QCI), Shri Chakravarthy T. Kannan, emphasised the importance of collaboration, convergence and mutual trust in building a strong quality ecosystem. He noted that the ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’ initiative, along with the accreditation scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories, would contribute to strengthening India’s quality infrastructure and taking quality-assured testing services closer to communities.

The successful organisation of ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’ reinforces the commitment of QCI and NABL towards advancing collaborative quality initiatives, promoting regulatory excellence, enhancing stakeholder confidence and strengthening India’s quality infrastructure.

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Abhishek Dayal/Shabbir Azad/Anushka Pandey

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