Key Update 

The Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma) has partnered with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to set up a food testing laboratory in Kochi, strengthening testing infrastructure for the dairy and food sectors in the region. The facility, operating under NDDB CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food), will be inaugurated on Saturday by George Kurian, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The Kochi laboratory will function as a branch of NDDB CALF Limited and follow the same rigorous quality and professional standards adopted across its national network. In its initial phase, the laboratory will focus on meeting the testing needs of the dairy industry in Kerala and neighbouring states. Infrastructure for detailed quality and safety analysis of milk and milk products is already in place, according to C.N. Valsalan Pillai, Chairman, ERCMPU.

Phased Expansion of Services

Over time, the laboratory will broaden its testing capabilities to cover food and agricultural commodities, including spices, fruits, vegetables, bakery items, ready-to-eat foods, and fish and related products. The facility has received NABL accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, New Delhi.

Boost to Food Safety Enforcement

Equipped with advanced instrumentation and modern infrastructure, the Kochi laboratory will also support State government departments and food safety authorities by providing specialised testing services to help manage and reduce food safety risks, said Rajesh Nair, Managing Director, NDDB CALF.

NDDB CALF Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB with its headquarters in Anand, Gujarat, has been delivering analytical testing and research services to the dairy, food, and agricultural sectors for over 17 years.

Source: The Hindu Businessline