MoS George Kurian to inaugurate Milma-NDDB Food testing lab in Kochi
Kochi, Jan 15
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian will inaugurate a state-of-the-art food testing laboratory in Kochi on Saturday, marking a significant step in strengthening quality assurance infrastructure for Kerala's dairy and food sectors.
The facility has been set up through a collaboration between Milma (Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
The laboratory, established under the NDDB CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food) Limited, is located at the Ernakulam Regional Co-operative Milk Producers' Union (ERCMPU) campus at Edappally.
The Kochi facility will function as a branch of NDDB CALF Limited and will adhere to the same stringent professional and quality standards followed by NDDB's other laboratories across the country.
In the initial phase, the laboratory will cater primarily to the testing requirements of the dairy industry in Kerala and neighbouring states, with facilities already in place for comprehensive quality and safety testing of milk and milk products.
According to ERCMPU Chairman C.N. Valsalan Pillai, the scope of the laboratory's services will be expanded in a phased manner to include testing of food and agricultural commodities such as spices, fruits, vegetables, bakery products, ready-to-eat foods, fish, and allied products.
The laboratory has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), New Delhi, ensuring compliance with nationally recognised testing standards.
NDDB CALF Managing Director Dr Rajesh Nair said the Kochi laboratory, equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced instrumentation, would also support State government departments and food safety authorities by providing scientific testing services aimed at mitigating food safety risks.
NDDB CALF Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NDDB, headquartered in Gujarat's Anand.
For over 17 years, it has been providing analytical testing, research and advisory services to the dairy, food and agricultural sectors, as well as regulatory authorities.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative by Milma and NDDB. A modern lab in Kochi will be a big boost for dairy farmers in the region. Quick and reliable testing means better quality control from farm to table. Hope the services are affordable for small cooperatives.
While the lab is a positive development, I hope it's not just another facility that remains underutilized. The key will be transparency—will test results for common brands be made public? That would truly empower consumers.
As someone who recently moved to Kochi, I'm really pleased to hear this. Food safety is a major concern everywhere. Having a nationally accredited lab locally should help improve standards for restaurants and local food producers too.
Excellent news! Kerala's food sector, especially dairy, spices, and seafood, needs robust quality infrastructure. Collaboration between a state federation like Milma and a national body like NDDB is the right model. Jai Kisan! 🐄
A much-needed facility. But I sincerely hope the focus remains on serving the farmers and small producers first, not just becoming a revenue center for the government. Affordable testing can revolutionize quality in our local markets.
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