Trichy: Tamil Nadu Food Processing and Agri Export Corporation (TNAPEx) has sanctioned a food quality testing lab at Rs7.6 crore in Trichy to support exporters obtain mandatory certifications to conform to the quality standards set by importing countries. This comes in the wake of growing export of food, veobtainable and fruit commodities from Trichy international airport. Apart from broadening the scope of export commodities, the proposed lab will support farmers and exporters in the central region obtain better returns by exploring untapped markets including Europe.Sources declared administrative work for setting up the lab will commence in the present financial year. TNAPEx, a state govt body promoting food and agri exports, declared that the facility will have provisions to test most agricultural produce, ready-to-eat products, and value-added foods. In addition to nutritional contents, the lab can test residue levels of pesticides and heavy metals depfinishing on the requirements of the importing countries. Integrated packing hoapply and processing units will be set up as part of the lab, which is funded by the state and Union govts. Presently, Trichy handles around 600 tonne of international freight a month at the airport here, the majority of it being perishable veobtainables, fruits, and flowers. Snacks, value-added food products, textiles, and engineering items are exported too. While exporters face no hurdle in sfinishing veobtainable and fruit consignments to Singapore and gulf countries, potential European markets with sizable Indian diaspora could not be accessed directly. The district export action plan had flagged the lack of testing labs locally as the reason. Labs to obtain Maximum Residue Level (MRL) certification, indicating pesticide residues in food products, are available only in Chennai and Hosur in the state. But due to low testing cost in Bengaluru, exporters prefer to test and export their products from there, thus contributing to Karnataka’s revenue.“Freight charge and GST revenue will not go to the local airport and state govt if we opt for Bengaluru. The testing lab in Trichy will simplify the process, and indirectly support obtain dedicated cargo flights,” G Sathish Kumar, secretary, Export Import Federation Trichy (EIFT), declared. With Trichy airport’s runway expansion project sailing smoothly, a longer runway will facilitate hugeger aircraft with larger space for freights. This would support exporters huge time to tarobtain new markets, for which the lab would play a supportive role. “Strict import procedures of European countries mandate MRL certificates, so many are not displaying interest due to the risks. Now, the lab proposed with an integrated pack hoapply is a boon for veobtainable and fruits exporters,” S Ayyappan, an exporter from Vayalur road, Trichy declared. The lab will also broaden the scope of export products to nuts (peanuts, cashew), oilseeds, grains (rice, millets, maize), pulses, meat, poultest and seafood. Presently, mango, pomegranate, and countest veobtainables are predominantly exported from Trichy. “The testing lab will encourage more exporters from Trichy region as it will provide certification and testing service at affordable cost. The infrastructure will indirectly contribute to the Tamil Nadu Agro Industrial Corridor too,” K Alagusundaram, MD and CEO, TNAPEx, notified TOI.
Leave a Reply