Section 43 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in hindi
- (1)The Food Authority may notify food laboratories and research institutions accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or any other accreditation agency for the purposes of carrying out analysis of samples by the Food Analysts under this Act.
- (2)The Food Authority shall, establish or recognise by notification, one or more referral food laboratory or laboratories to carry out the functions entrusted to the referral food laboratory by this Act or any rules and regulations made thereunder.
- (3)The Food Authority may frame regulations specifying--
- (a)the functions of food laboratory and referral food laboratory and the local area or areas within which such functions may be carried out;
- (b)the procedure for submission to the said laboratory of samples of articles of food for analysis or tests, the forms of the laboratory's reports thereon and the fees payable in respect of such reports; and
- (c)such other matters as may be necessary or expedient to enable the said laboratory to carry out its functions effectively.
Summary
- The Food Authority can officially recognize food testing laboratories and research institutions that have proper scientific accreditation.
- These recognized testing labs must be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or other approved agencies.
- The Food Authority must set up or recognize at least one central referral food laboratory to handle disputes and special tests.
- The Food Authority is responsible for making official regulations that describe the specific work and local boundaries of each recognized laboratory.
- Official regulations must also describe how samples should be sent, what forms are used, and the fees for testing reports.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who has the power to recognize and notify food testing laboratories under Section 43 of the 2006 Food Safety Act?
The Food Authority is the sole body empowered to notify and recognize food laboratories, research institutions, and referral food laboratories for carrying out food analysis under the Act.
2. What specific accreditation must a laboratory have to be recognized under Section 43 of the food safety law?
A laboratory or research institution must be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, or an equivalent accreditation agency, to be recognized by the Food Authority.
3. What is the purpose of a referral food laboratory under Section 43 of the 2006 Act?
A referral food laboratory is established or recognized by the Food Authority to carry out specialized functions and resolve disputes, such as analyzing backup samples when the results of the initial tests are highly contested.
4. Does Section 43 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 regulate the fees charged by these laboratories?
Yes, Section 43 allows the Food Authority to make regulations that explicitly specify the fees payable for the laboratory analysis and reports, as well as the procedure for submitting samples.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 43 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which organization is specifically named as the standard accreditation body for food laboratories?
Q2.Under Section 43 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, who is responsible for establishing or recognizing referral food laboratories?
Q3.Under Section 43 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, what details can the Food Authority specify through its official regulations?
Q4.Under Section 43 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, what is the legal status of the referral food laboratory?