New Delhi, August 3: Mizoram Health Minister Lalrinpuii on Monday met Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani, IAS, in New Delhi and urged the Centre to help establish an advanced food testing laboratory in the state to enhance food safety surveillance and protect public health.
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| Mizoram Health Minister Lalrinpuii meets FSSAI Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani, IAS, in New Delhi to discuss the establishment of an advanced food testing laboratory in Mizoram. The proposed facility aims to strengthen food safety surveillance and enhance testing for harmful chemical residues in food products across the state. (Image: DIPR Mizoram) |
During the meeting at the FSSAI headquarters, the Health Minister highlighted Mizoram's growing need for a modern laboratory capable of conducting comprehensive testing of food products, particularly for harmful chemical residues in fruits, vegetables and other consumables.
Referring to the state's public health concerns, Lalrinpuii noted that Mizoram currently records the highest cancer incidence in India when measured against its population. She stressed the importance of regularly testing food items for pesticide and chemical residues, similar to practices followed in more developed countries.
The Minister said Mizoram requires more than a laboratory that merely facilitates the issuance of food licences. Instead, she called for a robust food surveillance system supported by a well-equipped laboratory capable of testing both processed and unprocessed food products to ensure they are safe for public consumption.
She emphasised that strengthening food testing infrastructure would enable authorities to identify unsafe food products at an early stage and help improve food quality standards across the state.
Responding positively to the proposal, FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani appreciated the Minister's proactive approach towards food safety and acknowledged the importance of addressing the state's requirements. He assured the delegation that FSSAI would soon send a technical team to Mizoram to assess the existing infrastructure and examine the feasibility of establishing an upgraded food testing laboratory.
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Punhani also informed the Minister that while FSSAI does not construct laboratory buildings, the Mizoram Government would need to provide the required infrastructure. He said the technical team would inspect the state's existing facilities and provide recommendations to facilitate the project at the earliest.
The meeting was attended by Lalzarmawii, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary of the Social Welfare & Women and Child Development and Health & Family Welfare Departments, H. Lalhruaitluanga, PS to the Health Minister, and Dr. Hmingthankimi, OSD, National Health Mission (NHM).
The initiative is expected to strengthen Mizoram's food safety monitoring system and support the state's efforts to improve public health by ensuring safer food for its residents.
