The approved facilities include Eurofins Analytical Services India Pvt Ltd, TUV SUD South Asia Pvt Ltd, SGS India Private Limited, Fare Labs Pvt Ltd, Pollucon Laboratories Pvt Ltd and Atharva Laboratories Pvt Ltd.
Through the advisory, the food and drug authority of the Middle-Eastern kingdom has announced that 30 labs have been selected for the testing of fruit, vegetable, meat and spice samples in order to ensure that pesticides are well within the specified limits.
Exporters were instructed to attach the results from these approved labs with the shipment. The advisory stated that the enclosed attachment should clearly mention that the consignments were in compliance with the required technical and approved standards by SFDA.
An official from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said, “Last month, the authority from Saudi Arabia had sent a letter regarding new requirements for export of fruits and vegetables to the Middle-Eastern nation.”
“It was in interest with the reduction in the use of pesticides. Thus, henceforth, for export to Saudi Arabia, the exporters need to comply with the said requirement to avoid rejection or a ban during export,” he added.
Last month, the Saudi embassy had issued a note, wherein it informed all the exporting countries including India to reduce the percentage of pesticide residues in food to less than two percent.
In case the result showed an excess in the permitted limit, the SFDA requested the competent authorities to supervise the facilities and farm, according to the requirement.
