Key Development

The State Institute for Animal Diseases (SIAD) in Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, has set up a new Toxicology Laboratory Complex and Toxin Residue Analysis Unit to strengthen food safety and animal health surveillance in Kerala.

Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchu Rani will inaugurate the facility, established with ₹4.5 crore under the Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI) as part of the Kerala Chicken Project. The upgraded infrastructure includes a dedicated Toxin Residue Analytical Laboratory, equipped to conduct pesticide and antibiotic residue testing in food of animal origin. The facility will enhance monitoring of meat, poultry, eggs, and other animal products to ensure they meet prescribed safety standards.

Boost to Surveillance and Public Health

SIAD, the State-level referral laboratory under the Animal Husbandry Department, investigates animal deaths caused by poisoning and detects mycotoxins in animal feed. With the new complex, the institute will expand its capacity to identify harmful residues that may enter the food chain. Officials said the facility strengthens Kerala’s food safety framework by improving early detection of contaminants, supporting regulatory compliance, and protecting consumer health. D.K. Murali, MLA, will preside over the inauguration ceremony.

Source: The Hindu