(MENAFN- KNN India)
New Delhi, Jul 2 (KNN) The Union government is reportedly developing plans to elevate the National Test House (NTH), an industrial testing laboratory under the Consumer Affairs Ministry, to the status of the apex certification body for all Indian products.
This initiative comes in response to recent rejections of Indian export orders, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Under the proposed scheme, a Network of laboratories will be established nationwide, operating under the NTH's purview.
These facilities will be tasked with issuing final certifications for a wide range of products, including food items, spices, and organic goods.
The primary objective is to ensure that Indian products meet global standards and gain international recognition.
The government aims to complete the establishment and operationalisation of these NTH labs within the first 125 days of the new administration. Initially, testing facilities will be prioritised in regions with critical certification needs.
The new system would allow regulatory agencies to request NTH testing certificates from manufacturers if doubts arise about product quality.
Additionally, companies will have the option to directly approach NTH for sample testing to pre-empt potential quality issues.
This move to enhance product quality assessment in India comes against a backdrop of recent rejections of Indian products in international markets, which have negatively impacted the country's global image.
Notable incidents include the rejection of spices and other food products, including organic foods, by authorities in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States.
Under the proposed system, NTH would be responsible for counter-validating samples that fail tests in other countries.
The labs would also certify organic food products for both domestic consumption and export.
Currently, product certification is conducted by various agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
These organisations operate their own labs and accredit private facilities for testing purposes. However, there is presently no apex body for re-testing in case of failure.
Sources indicate that the new testing protocols are being developed based on standards used by renowned global testing agencies.
This approach aims to facilitate smoother exports of food products and other items such as drones and electrical goods.
The implementation of this centralised testing and certification system is expected to bolster the reliability and credibility of Indian products in both domestic and international markets.
(KNN Bureau)
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