New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced the notification of an additional laboratory for testing “Food for Sportspersons” for prohibited substances as defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The newly designated laboratory is the Analytical Testing Laboratory at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) located in Balanagar, Hyderabad, Telangana.
It is worth noting that FSSAI had recently appointed the Centre of Excellence for Research and Analysis of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (CERANS) as a laboratory for testing “Food for Sportspersons” for the same purpose. With the addition of the Analytical Testing Laboratory at NIPER, two laboratories have been designated for this task.
According to the FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purposes, Functional Food, and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016, no prohibited substances identified by WADA should be included in any food products meant for sportspersons. Food business operators are required to consult the annual list of prohibited substances published by WADA, which is effective from January 1 each year.
The scope of accreditation for the laboratory is categorized as “Chemical.” The current accreditation granted by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) allows for testing of prohibited substances declared by WADA under the category of “Chemical-Nutritional Supplement.”
FSSAI has instructed enforcement authorities to utilise the newly notified laboratory for testing “Food for Sportspersons” with an FSSAI license for prohibited substances declared by WADA as needed.
