The food testing laboratory of Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU) has been granted accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Testing Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The accreditation will enable the lab to evaluate quality parameters of food stuff as per the export standards. The lab is a joint venture of JAU, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation.

JAU vice-chancellor Dr N C Patel said, "In the lab, tests and analysis of various parameters of all types of food items will be conducted. Analysis of agricultural products carried out by NABL accredited lab will be accepted internationally." Farmers, traders, industrialists and those carrying out agriculture related activities are expected to benefit from this development. The biggest advantage at hand is that

Now, samples won't have to be sent for testing to Mumbai and other centres. With the tag of NABL accreditation, the commodities are expected to fetch more prices. The test charges at FTL would be far less than other private laboratories.