Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 10th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) launched India’s first Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories on August 10, 2026. Held under the ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’ initiative, the scheme aims to decentralize food testing, providing quality-assured and internationally benchmarked services directly to communities. Key outcomes include a Multilateral MoU Exchange to streamline regulatory convergence, reduce assessment duplication, and strengthen India’s quality infrastructure.
Key Points / Main Content
Launch of the Accreditation Scheme
Introduces the first-ever framework in India specifically for accrediting mobile food testing laboratories.
Operates under the Integrated Assessment Programme (IAP) to ensure testing meets international benchmarks.
Shifts testing capabilities from conventional laboratory settings to mobile units to improve local accessibility.
Features a Multilateral MoU Exchange among participating organizations to reaffirm commitment to coordinated assessments.
Focuses on regulatory harmonization to reduce the duplication of assessment processes.
Aims to improve regulatory efficiency and facilitate "ease of doing business" without compromising quality standards.
Strategic Objectives & Food Safety
Strengthens national food safety surveillance and supports faster regulatory interventions.
Enhances consumer confidence by ensuring the reliability of food testing services.
Promotes quality-led practices across the entire value chain to support India's growth journey toward 2047.
Impact Analysis
Mobile Food Testing LaboratoriesImpact
Laboratories can now seek formal accreditation for mobile units, granting them international recognition and credibility for services provided outside traditional settings.
Action Required
Must align their operations with the NABL framework and apply for accreditation under the new scheme to provide certified testing services.
Regulatory Authorities and Commodity BoardsImpact
Stakeholders benefit from a more integrated quality infrastructure and a unified assessment framework, leading to less administrative redundancy.
Action Required
Participate in coordinated assessments and honor the mutual recognition agreements established through the Multilateral MoU.
Consumers and CommunitiesImpact
Communities gain easier and faster access to reliable, quality-assured food testing, leading to improved public health safety.
Action Required
Can utilize accredited mobile laboratories to verify food quality with higher confidence in the results.
NABL and Quality Council of India (QCI)Impact
These bodies reinforce their roles as central pillars in India's quality ecosystem, driving the "Gunvatta Samanvaya" initiative.
Action Required
Responsible for managing the accreditation process and ensuring the continued integrity of the Integrated Assessment Framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories: India’s first framework designed to provide quality-assured and internationally benchmarked food testing services through mobile units to improve food safety surveillance.
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL): The constituent board of the Quality Council of India responsible for developing and implementing the accreditation framework for mobile food testing.
Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF): A collaborative regulatory framework aimed at reducing duplication in assessment processes and promoting regulatory harmonisation and efficiency.
Quality Council of India (QCI): The national body overseeing the development of India's quality infrastructure and the 'Gunvatta Samanvaya' initiative.
Gunvatta Samanvaya: An initiative and multilateral platform launched to promote regulatory convergence, coordinated assessments, and quality-led practices across the value chain.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
National Accreditation Board for Testing and
Calibration Laboratories Launches India’s First
Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing
Laboratories
Multilateral MoU Exchange Strengthens Regulatory
Convergence and Integrated Quality Infrastructure
प्रव तथ: 10 AUG 2026 7:48PM by PIB Delhi
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 at the ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya – A
Multilateral MoU Exchange Ceremony’ held at Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi.
The initiative aims to expand access to reliable, quality-assured and internationally benchmarked food
testing services closer to communities. The event also witnessed a Multilateral MoU Exchange among
participating organisations, reinforcing efforts towards greater regulatory convergence, coordinated
assessments and a more integrated and efficient quality infrastructure.
Secretary, 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.
The Accreditation Scheme, developed by NABL, 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
is expected to strengthen food safety surveillance, improve access to quality testing, support faster
regulatory interventions and enhance consumer confidence.
The Multilateral MoU Exchange brought participating organisations together to reaffirm their
commitment towards coordinated assessments, regulatory harmonisation and strengthening the Integrated
Assessment Framework. The 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.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, underscored the importance of
embedding quality across the entire value chain. He stated that initiatives such as ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’
would contribute to India’s growth journey towards 2047 by promoting quality-led practices.
Chairperson, NABL, Dr Sandip Shah, highlighted the significance of the accreditation scheme and the
Integrated Assessment Framework, emphasising the role of collaborative assessment processes and
credible institutions in supporting India’s development.Secretary General, Quality Council of India (QCI), Shri Chakravarthy T. Kannan, emphasised the
importance of collaboration, convergence and mutual trust in building a strong quality ecosystem. He
noted that the ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’ initiative, along with the accreditation scheme for Mobile Food
Testing Laboratories, would contribute to strengthening India’s quality infrastructure and taking quality-
assured testing services closer to communities.
The successful organisation of ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya’ reinforces the commitment of QCI and NABL
towards advancing collaborative quality initiatives, promoting regulatory excellence, enhancing
stakeholder confidence and strengthening India’s quality infrastructure.
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Abhishek Dayal/Shabbir Azad/Anushka Pandey
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2297325) आगंतुक पटल : 1525
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