Raphael Warjri

The State Food Testing Laboratory, Pasteur Hill, Shillong, Meghalaya was set up in the year 1981.
The objective of the laboratory is to cater to the need of the public and society, which is laid by the
Government of India statutory guidelines in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. With effect
from 5th August 2011, the Food Testing Laboratory implemented the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006
and became an autonomous body, functions independently as the State Food Testing Laboratory, Pasteur
Hills, Shillong under the Commissionerate of Food Safety, Meghalaya. This laboratory is the first State Food
Testing Laboratory in the entire North Eastern Region to achieve Accreditation from the National
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in ‘Biological Discipline.” The
laboratory analyses regulatory, surveillance, private and government samples as per the mandate of the Food
Safety and Standard Act. 2006 to ensure the quality of food for the safety of the public. The laboratory
consists of the microbiological, chemical, pesticide and heavy metal testing unit and can also test parameters
for vitamins, antibiotics, aflatoxins etc. With the view to make the State Food Testing Laboratory, Pasteur
Hill, Shillong, Meghalaya a State-of-the-Art Testing laboratory, the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) has granted the ‘Award of Contract’ for setting up the Food Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, which is a window for Organic and GMO’s testing centre in the state in the near future.

Hence; the First of its kind, Food Molecular Microbiology Laboratory in the North Eastern
Region, India as stated by Dr Ajai Prakash Gupta, Director FSSAI was inaugurated on the 17 th of January
2024 by the Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, the Guest of Honor
who graced the event as the Chief Guest on behalf of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri. Conrad K Sangma in
the presence of the Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare
Department, Shri Sampath Kumar, IAS; Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family
Welfare Department and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Shri Ram Kumar, IAS, Director of
QA, FSSAI, Dr. Ajai Prakash Gupta, officials from health Department, and other dignitaries. This will be a
game-changer encompassing health, consumer confidence, economic support and overall, community
welfare which will also empower the food chain operators and local entrepreneurs to ensure to the
consumers the safety of the products and thus establishing a foundation for a healthier and safer community.