Food Testing Labs
MoFPI Invites Proposals for Setting up NABL-Accredited Food Testing Laboratories under PMKSY
MoFPI Encourages Applications for Food Testing Labs under PM Kisan Sampada Yojana
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) on 20.11.2025 inviting proposals for setting up of Food Testing Laboratories with National Accreditation Board for testing and calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation under the scheme of Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) of “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)”. The EoI is open till 20.01.2026. Till date no proposal has been received against the EoI dated 20.11.2025. As per the Scheme Guidelines dated 12.11.2025, food testing laboratories in general areas are to become operational within 24 months, and the laboratories in difficult areas within 30 months from the date of approval of their respective proposals.
The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) Scheme operates on a demand-driven basis. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) provides financial assistance for setting up Food Testing Laboratories through proposals invited nationwide via Expressions of Interest (EOI) issued from time to time. Funds are allocated to proposals selected on merit, in accordance with the scheme guidelines. To promote wider distribution of the labs, additional weightage is accorded to proposals originating from districts without existing NABL-accredited food testing laboratories in evaluation criteria. Also, the proposals from North-Eastern Regions/ Difficult Areas / Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas are eligible for grant/ subsidy at 70% of eligible equipment cost as compared with 50 % for general areas and relaxations in eligibility requirements.
Under the FSQAI Scheme, the Ministry provides capital assistance only as per existing scheme guidelines. There is no provision for funding sustained operations or any recurring budget allocation. However, MoFPI has allowed one-time procurement of Certified Reference Material (CRMs) required for NABL accreditation and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software under the scheme.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
CMC-MoFPI
(Release ID :281201)