Himachal Pradesh Boosts Food Testing Infrastructure Ahead of Nutrition Policy

The Himachal Pradesh government has announced major investments to strengthen food testing infrastructure, allocating ₹25 crore for a new food testing laboratory in Kangra district and ₹8.5 crore to upgrade the Composite Testing Laboratory at Kandaghat in Solan. The initiative is part of broader preparations for the state’s first-ever Nutrition Policy, aimed at improving access to safe and nutritious food.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while chairing a Health Department review meeting, stressed the need for robust testing facilities to support effective nutrition monitoring. The Kangra lab will function as a dedicated food testing centre, while the upgraded Kandaghat facility will feature advanced analytical capabilities for more accurate food quality assessments.

The state cabinet has also approved plans for additional regional laboratories in Mandi, Shimla and Baddi to expand food safety surveillance. These facilities will support programmes such as ICDS, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and PDS by enabling nutritional profiling, fortification checks and contamination monitoring, strengthening public health outcomes across the state.

27-01-2026