To set up two new labs to facilitate analysis of samples

Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has informed the government of its willingness to reduce the fee for screening vegetables and fruits at its state-of-the-art laboratory here to detect the presence of pesticide residue. The Pesticide Residue Research and Analysis Laboratory functioning at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, will take up the screening of samples provided by the new authority to be constituted by the government to keep a tab on pesticide contamination in fruits and vegetables brought from other States. The KAU has welcomed the government initiative to form the authority to keep vigil on pesticide content in vegetables brought from other States.
Support promised
Pointing out that the periodic reports furnished by the laboratory had helped enhance public awareness of the hazardous pesticide content in vegetables and fruits available in the market, the KAU said it had agreed to reduce the fee for samples collected by the authority and provide maximum support to the authority. The decision was communicated to the government at a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Tuesday.

  • Welcomes move to form authority to keep vigil on pesticide content in vegetables
  • KAU’s Vellayani lab is the only NABL-accredited public sector lab in State

  • Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kau-to-reduce-fee-for-screening-vegetables/article6616993.ece