Eia To Test Food Procured By Southern Naval Command

KOCHI: Henceforth the food and other products procured by Southern Naval Command will be tested by  Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Kochi under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Laboratory testing of Provisions was exchanged between S K Saxena, Director (Insp and QC) Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Kochi and Commander Kamalender Sharma, Base Victualling Officer, Naval Base at a function held here on Wednesday.

Calling the agreement as ‘historic’,  S K Saxena said that EIA will ensure that the food products the Naval Base get is of national standard. The Navy has been sending samples to Laboratories in Mumbai and Chennai for quality checking. But the entire exercise used to take many weeks to get the final result. With the new arrangement the Naval Base hopes to get the test results in less than a week.

The Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) was set up in 1963 as an apex body to provide for sound development of export trade through quality control and pre-shipment inspection. The EIC is assisted in its functions by the Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs) located in  Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai having a network of 37 sub-offices and laboratories to back up the pre-shipment inspection and certification activity. “Since 2009 we were on the lookout of testing laboratories to check the quality of our food items. Our aim was to make sure that the food is safe to eat. Earlier we used to send samples to many locations in the country. But all our search has finally been zeroed in on EIA Kochi. We have 70 dependent units in the country and our annual procurement comes to around Rs 50-60 crore. With the new association we hope to get test results soon and will be of mutual benefit,” said  Commander Kamalender Sharma, Base Victualling Officer, Naval Base.

Saxena said that the facility is exploring ways to associate with more institutions in the country. “Our mandate is to make sure quality control of products, especially food products. This is our first association with Armed Forces to provide testing services. The country imports products worth $410 billion and exports $310 billion. The country imports $45 billion worth food products and exports $32 billion. Seafood, Buffalo Meat and Basmati Rice are the major contributors in the export basket. The government now plans to increase exports hence quality control is very important,” said  Saxena.

 Jayapalan G, Deputy Director In-charge, EIA-Kochi and Lt Deepak Poonia, Naval Base, Kochi were also present.

Source :newindianexpress.com