Nepal’s Food Laboratory Receives International Accreditation, Opening Doors for Wider Exports

The state-owned food laboratory of Nepal has received international accreditation for the first time, paving the way for the export of 814 Nepali food products across 22 categories to countries beyond India without additional testing barriers.

According to the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), the accreditation was granted by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) under the Quality Council of India.

“Laboratory testing certified by NABL-accredited labs is accepted by third countries, which now allows 814 products across 22 food categories to be exported without quality-related restrictions,” said DFTQC Director General Sanjiv Kumar Karn.

Until now, Nepali exporters were required to test food products in Indian laboratories before shipping abroad. “With this recognition, that compulsion has been removed, making this a significant milestone for promoting Nepali exports,” Karn said.

Earlier in March, India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had granted mutual recognition to Nepal’s food lab for 10 food categories, enabling smooth export of 386 products to the Indian market. With NABL’s certification, Nepal’s lab-tested products can now access a broader range of countries, including Qatar, the UAE, the US, Japan, and the UK.

DFTQC’s National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory (NFFRL) now holds the widest accreditation scope among government food labs in Nepal. The department expanded its testing capacity from 386 products in 10 categories to 814 products in 22 categories this year.

Nepal’s food lab first began the accreditation process in 2012 with 27 chemical parameters. By 2015, it had expanded to 39 parameters, including chemical and microbiological testing. In 2019, the lab received NABL accreditation for 102 parameters. As of 2024, it covered 286 parameters. In 2025, the scope was significantly expanded to 672 chemical and 142 microbiological parameters, totaling 814 under NABL certification.

The department believes the international accreditation will further facilitate and promote the export of food and agricultural products from Nepal and has urged exporters to fully utilize the upgraded laboratory facilities.