The Gujarat government is enhancing its laboratory network to ensure citizens have access to safe food and quality medicines, as stated by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya in the state Assembly. A new advanced Food and Drug Laboratory is being established in Surat to further this goal. The laboratory, costing Rs 50 crore and allocated Rs 17 crore in the current state budget, will occupy a 2,500 square metre plot with plans for a six-storey building featuring specialized testing facilities.
Administrative approval has been granted for new laboratories in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Junagadh, and Valsad, aiming to reduce the workload on the Central Laboratory in Vadodara and expedite sample testing. These efforts are part of the state’s broader campaign to combat adulteration, enhance food safety, and ensure medicines meet quality standards, addressing concerns over public health and consumer protection.
The upcoming laboratories are crucial in strengthening the state’s fight against adulteration and safeguarding citizens’ health, according to Minister Pansheriya. The government’s initiative is a response to past cases of adulteration in certain areas, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards in food and drug testing to protect public health.
