BLESS Agri Food Laboratory Services PLC launched first ever agricultural products and food testing laboratory. The laboratory is helpful in facilitating the country’s export and making the country more competitive at the global market, the Deputy Minister said.
Speaking on the launching ceremony held yesterday Minister of Communication and Information Technology with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister for Finance and Economic cluster Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael said the laboratory is established at a time when the country is urgently demanding competent laboratories to support the implementation of activities set under the Growth and Transformation Plan 2(GTP2) to ensure food safety, quality and nutritional content. It is vital to test food products and fulfill both local and international requirements, he noted.
Debretsion said the laboratory is the first of its kind in Ethiopia that can provide credible testing services catastrophic chemicals that may be obtained in nuts, cereals and spices due to improper pre and post-harvest handling. “The laboratory will contribute to filling the gap in the link between production in the development and production of safe, nutritious and wholesome food,” he said. It can also benefit producers and exporters by giving them dependable and reliable analytic services helpful to decide on quality and safety parameters to sale their products at a very competitive price, he added.
Company General Manager Hilina Belete on her part said the lab could help the country boost its export by providing testing services for exporters locally and can encourage the food processing industries by relying on their proved quality. The company aims to expand its services to African countries and provide services in the near future, she said. According to her, the lab is at present providing biological, chemical tests and micro nutrient analysis services.
Hilina said the lab would also contribute to the improvement of health in the country by enabling effective chemicals detection in food and agricultural products that could endanger the health of people. “It is also vital to strengthen the country’s effort to be a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it is one of the standards for ensuring safety and quality,” she said.
The company, which cost about 80 million Birr, has created job opportunities for 50 people. It began operation with agricultural research and educational institutions in various programs.
[TheEthiopianHerald]