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. The launch occurred at the 'Gunvatta Samanvaya – A Multilateral MoU Exchange Ceremony' held at Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi on August 10, 2026.
The accreditation scheme 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 aims to strengthen food safety surveillance, improve access to quality testing, support faster regulatory interventions, and enhance consumer confidence across India.
The event also featured a Multilateral MoU Exchange among participating organizations, reinforcing efforts toward greater regulatory convergence, coordinated assessments, and a more integrated and efficient quality infrastructure. This 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.
Secretary of the 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. Bhatia underscored the importance of embedding quality across the entire value chain, stating that initiatives such as 'Gunvatta Samanvaya' would contribute to India's growth journey towards 2047 by promoting quality-led practices.
NABL Chairperson Dr. Sandip Shah highlighted the significance of the accreditation scheme and the Integrated Assessment Framework, emphasizing the role of collaborative assessment processes and credible institutions in supporting India's development. QCI Secretary General Shri Chakravarthy T. Kannan emphasized the importance of collaboration, convergence, and mutual trust in building a strong quality ecosystem, noting that these initiatives would contribute to strengthening India's quality infrastructure.