Govt launches schemes for honey testing, quality bee products

PTI, May 20, 2021, 8:28 PM IST

Mumbai: Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday launched a scheme to set up honey and other beehive testing laboratory on the National Bee Day.

Emphasizing the need for honey testing and certification as per the FSSAI and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) norms, the minister in a statement said it will ensure promotion of honey export, income generation for the beekeepers and health of the consumers.

The NBB-funded scheme of setting up of the regional NABL-accredited honey and other Beehive Testing Laboratory, worth Rs 8 crore is envisaged to cater to the need of beekeepers, honey industry, and consumers across the northwestern region of the country for quality testing and certification of honey and other beehive products.

It is aimed to gradually evolve into a world-class National facility in a phased manner, so that the country does not remain dependent on the foreign testing facilities for certification of the indigenously produced honey and other beehive products, the statement added.