JAMMU, Aug 1: A two-day assessment by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) commenced today at the Fertilizer Quality Control Laboratory (FQCL), Directorate of Agriculture, Krishi Bhawan, Talab Tillo Jammu, to evaluate the laboratory’s compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards for testing laboratories.
The opening meeting was attended by Lead Assessor Shiva Kant Dwivedi and Technical Assessor Mohan Lal Dotaniya. Also, present were Agriculture Chemist, Jammu, Roshan Lal Bhagat; Assistant Biochemist (FQCL), Deepak Singh; Technical Manager/Analyst Pradeep Bhatia; Analysts Pooja Koul, Aparna Ganjoo and Babbar Preet Singh. Dr. Anshuman, Assistant Director, NABL, joined the meeting through virtual mode.
Welcoming the assessment team, Roshan Lal Bhagat, Agriculture Chemist, Jammu, highlighted the role of the Fertilizer Quality Control Laboratory (FQCL), Jammu in ensuring the quality of fertilizers under the provisions of the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985. He said the laboratory is equipped with modern analytical instruments and qualified technical staff to deliver reliable and accurate testing services. He informed that FQCL, Jammu has been NABL accredited since August 2024 and is committed to maintaining internationally accepted standards of testing quality and technical competence, thereby contributing to the supply of quality fertilizers to the farming community of Jammu & Kashmir.
Assistant Biochemist (FQCL), Deepak Singh, briefed the NABL assessment team on the laboratory’s analytical infrastructure, standard operating procedures, quality management system and testing protocols. He highlighted the laboratory’s commitment to maintaining accuracy, traceability and reliability in fertilizer testing in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
During the assessment, the NABL team carried out a detailed inspection of the laboratory facilities and witnessed the implementation of laboratory activities to verify continued compliance with NABL accreditation requirements. The assessment covered documentation, technical competence of personnel, testing methodologies, equipment calibration, laboratory infrastructure, quality assurance procedures and overall laboratory operations to verify compliance with NABL accreditation requirements.
The assessment, which will continue tomorrow, aims to ensure that the laboratory continues to meet national and international quality standards, thereby enhancing the reliability, accuracy and credibility of fertilizer testing services for the benefit of the farming community.