FOOD TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIA

 The Export Inspection Council (EIC) is enhancing India's food-testing infrastructure to boost food exports. The council is implementing advanced technologies, opening new laboratories, and launching an integrated traceability module. It is also gaining international recognition through mutual recognition agreements and memorandums of understanding.  

Last Updated on 7th January, 2025
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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS

Context:

The Union Commerce Ministry is working to expand food-testing infrastructure to increase food exports.

About Export Inspection Council (EIC)

The Export Inspection Council (EIC), which reports to the commerce ministry, has launched a thorough investigation to find gaps in the existing infrastructure and to develop a comprehensive strategy for future expansion, both commodity and region-wise.  

What steps is the EIC taking to improve its food-testing capabilities?

The EIC is taking several steps to improve its food testing capabilities, which include implementing advanced technologies such as IoT-based sampling techniques and opening new laboratories in strategic locations such as Ahmedabad, Faridabad, and Mangalore.

The council also plans to launch an integrated traceability module to streamline the entire export inspection, testing, and certification process.

The EIC's participation in organisations like Codex Alimentarius, the International Organisation for Standards (ISO), and the WTO has enabled it to advance science-based standards, lower trade barriers, and promote seamless international trade.

The EIC plans to launch a user-friendly online portal that will include traceability modules, a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and E-Health features to streamline and manage the end-to-end processes involved in export inspection, testing, and certification.  

Export Inspection Council’s efforts to gain international recognition

It signed mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with other countries to promote international trade by ensuring that India's food export standards are recognised worldwide.

The EIC's certification system is widely recognised by regulatory bodies worldwide, including those in the European Union, the United States, Australia, Turkey, Korea, and Japan.

The EIC is also negotiating mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various countries for various products, with the goal of achieving global recognition for its mechanisms and processes.

It is also working to improve domestic standards so that India's food exports can compete more effectively.

Free-trade agreements (FTAs) for the food export sector

India is negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom and the European Union to improve domestic standards.

Food exports have significant potential in markets such as the United Arab Emirates, which signed an FTA with India in 2022.

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Source: 

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss the role of the food processing sector in promoting rural development. (150 words)

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