**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to questions regarding the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) Scheme. As of January 29, 2026, 205 projects have been approved under the scheme, with 174 completed and 30 ongoing. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has invited applications for setting up 100 food testing laboratories across the country via an Expression of Interest (EOI) open until February 10, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **FSQAI Scheme Projects:**
* 205 projects approved.
* 174 projects completed.
* 30 projects are ongoing.
* One project was withdrawn.
* **Ongoing Projects' Progress:**
* Details the approval date, approved grant amount, and released amount (in Lakh Rs.) for seven projects. These include:
* The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
* Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU)
* Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (GMO)
* Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University
* Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences
* MPEDA ELISA Laboratory, Contai
* MPEDA ELISA Laboratory, Haroa
* Details the approval date, approved grant amount, and released amount (in Lakh Rs.) for twenty-three other projects.
* **Andhra Pradesh Proposals (2019-2024):**
* Two projects listed as completed:
* Biofact Research Pvt., Ltd., Vishakhapatnam (District: Vishakhapatnam).
* MPEDA ELISA Laboratory, Bapatla (District: Guntur).
* **Expression of Interest (EOI) for New Labs:**
* MoFPI has floated an EOI on 21.11.2025, open until 10.02.2026, to set up 100 food testing labs.
* Eligible entities include any private sector organization intending to set up a food-testing laboratory exclusively for commercial purposes.
* **EOI Requirements:**
* Only new food testing laboratories considered.
* Only one application per applicant.
* In-house labs not supported.
* Must provide bylaws/Memorandum/Articles that include food testing as approved activity.
* Must have valid registrations (GSTIN, PAN, MSME Udyam Aadhar).
* SC/ST proposals: Entities with >=51% SC/ST stake are treated as such. Stake falling below 51% will lead to project cancellation and recovery with 10% interest.
* Women proposals: Entities with >=51% women promoter stake are treated as women proposals.
* Must not be insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt, wound up, or subject to legal proceedings.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)**
* **Impact:** The MoFPI is responsible for overseeing the FSQAI scheme, evaluating proposals, disbursing funds, and monitoring the progress of approved projects.
* **Action Required:** They need to process the applications received under the EOI by Feb 10th 2026.
**Food Testing Laboratories**
* **Impact:** Existing labs benefit from grants and funding, enabling them to expand or improve their facilities. New labs have the opportunity to establish themselves through the EOI.
* **Action Required:** Eligible entities need to apply for the EOI before February 10th 2026.
**Private sector organizations or entities**
* **Impact:** The EOI opens the door for private sector organizations or entities to set up their own food testing facilities.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the listed requirements and criteria in order to participate in the EOI.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) Scheme: A scheme aimed at approving, establishing, and completing food testing labs in India.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): The central government ministry responsible for implementing the FSQAI Scheme and floating Expression of Interest for setting up food testing laboratories.
Andhra Pradesh: Indian state specifically mentioned for the list of proposals received under the FSQAI scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 209
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY 2026
FOOD TESTING LABS UNDER FSQAI
209. SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) the number of food testing labs approved, on-going and completed under Food Safety &
Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) Scheme;
(b) the physical and financial progress of the labs that are on-going under the said scheme
along with date of starting the project;
(c) the list of proposals that have been received especially from Andhra Pradesh under the
scheme between 2019 and 2024;
(d) whether the Government is accepting more proposals under the scheme; and
(e) if so, the list of eligible institutions that can send proposals to establish these laboratories?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) Under Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) Scheme, 205 projects
have been approved, 174 projects have been completed and 30 Projects are ongoing. One Project
has been withdrawn by the promoter.
(b) The physical and financial progress of the labs that are on-going under the said scheme
along with date of approval the project is as under :
Approved Released
Sr. Approval
Project Name Grant (Rs. Amount (Rs.
No. Date
In Lakh) In Lakh)
The Energy and Resources Institute
1 21-09-2016 171.84 137.472
(TERI),
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological
2 15-02-2019 639.50 251.5
University (JNTU), Annantpur, Chittoor
Indian Institute of Food Processing
3 23-08-2019 114.70 43.586
Technology (GMO)
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical
4 02-09-2019 253.12 191.25926
University,
Sher-e-Kashmir University of
5 30-12-2019 736.84 575.63508
Agricultural Sciences
6 MPEDA ELISA Laboratory, Contai 05-10-2020 32.23 12.2455
7 MPEDA ELISA Laboratory, Haroa 05-10-2020 32.67 15.51825Bombay Test House Pvt Ltd, Navi
8 26-03-2021 207.00 98.325
Mumbai, Thane
9 Chennai Mettex Labs Pvt. Ltd. 27-06-2023 263.69 131.845
J & K Food Quality Control Lab for
10 27-06-2023 364.02 0
Skill Development
11 Trust well Lab 27-06-2023 516.01 0
12 Aura Analytical Services Pvt Ltd 27-06-2023 533.42 0
Bihar State Seed and Organic
13 27-06-2023 538.31 0
Certification Agency
14 Banjara Lambani Samaj 21-11-2023 664.78 332.39
15 North Eastern Hill University 21-11-2023 1021.09 0
16 Startech Labs Private Limited 01-03-2024 371.17 0
M/s First Source Laboratory Solutions
17 01-03-2024 655.23 0
LLP
Welzo Research & Development Pvt.
18 01-03-2024 772.12 386.06
Ltd
19 Foodtech Consults India Private Limited 01-03-2024 550.70 0
Nagaon Foods and Analysis Private
20 01-03-2024 650.00 0
Limited
21 S. N. Pura Laboratory LLP 01-03-2024 642.46 321.23
22 Mediforce Research Private Limited 01-03-2024 808.01 404
23 Kalpana Chawla Computech Pvt. Ltd 01-03-2024 751.37 0
Eurofins Analytical Services India
24 01-03-2024 531.86 265.93
Private Limited
25 Angel Analytical Services LLP 01-03-2024 732.71 366.355
26 Bikaner Agrimarketing Private Limited 01-03-2024 497.45 248.725
27 Mitra S. K. Private Limited 01-03-2024 459.75 0
28 Emminent Analytics 01-03-2024 455.50 227.75
Shreeyan Research and Analytical
29 01-03-2024 447.05 223.525
Laboratories
30 National Science 01-03-2024 301.05 0
(c) The list of proposals that have been received from Andhra Pradesh under the scheme
between 2019 and 2024 is as under:
Sr.
Proposal's Name District Status
No.
1 Biofact Research Pvt., Ltd.,
Vishakhapatnam Completed
Vishakhapatnam
2
MPEDA ELISA Laboratory, Bapatla Guntur Completed
(d) & (e) The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has floated an Expression of
Interest (EOI) on 21.11.2025, which is open till 10.02.2026, inviting applications for the setting
up of 100 food testing laboratories across the country.
Eligible entities:
Any private sector organization or entity intending to set-up a food-testing laboratory exclusively
for commercial food testing purposes, subject to following:i. Only proposals for the setting up of new Food Testing Laboratories shall be
considered.
ii. Only one application from one applicant will be considered.
iii. Proposals for in-house laboratories shall not be supported.
iv. Entities must provide their By-laws/ Memorandum of Association/ Articles of
Association / relevant statutory document explicitly incorporating commercial food
testing as an approved activity/ objective.
v. The entity must possess valid registration such as GSTIN, PAN, MSME Udyam
Aadhar, or an equivalent certificate issued by the concerned authority/government, as
applicable to the proposed services.
vi. Proposals received from entities where Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe
(ST) hold at least 51% stake, will be treated as SC/ST proposals.
vii. If, at any point during project implementation, the SC/ST ownership stake falls below
51%, the project shall be cancelled. Any subsidy already disbursed shall be subject to
recovery with an additional annual interest of 10%, and the Performance Security
shall be forfeited.
viii. Proposals received from entities where Women promoter hold at least 51%
stake in the net worth of the entity, will be considered as proposal from
Women.
ix. The entity must not be insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt, or being wound up; must
not have its affairs administered by a court or a judicial officer; must not have its
business activities suspended; and must not be the subject of legal proceedings for
any of the aforementioned reasons. An undertaking from the promoter is required to
be submitted in this regard. Detailed scheme guidelines are available on the website
of the Ministry (https://mofpi.gov.in/Schemes/food-safety-quality-assurance-
infrastructure/setting-gradation-quality-control-food-testing-laboratory/download-
guidelines-4 )
****