Chhattisgarh Forest Department

NWFP Certification

Proposals of the Group

The group concluded unanimously that the Lab-testing of M.F.P. for their contents should be carried out in accredited laboratories.  

Keeping the vastness of M.F.P. growing area, geographic variation in quality and cost factor involved in lab testing in view, it is decided that the testing of M.F.P. will be done in two stages :  

• Preliminary testing  

• Detail testing  

a. Preliminary Testing  

• Preliminary testing will be done at the location itself for visual grading purposes.  

b. Detail Testing

• Detail testing shall be carried out in an accredited laboratory based on Indian Pharmacopoeal standard and International guidelines for Herbal testing, BIS standards etc.  

Agency

Forest Department itself will work as an agency to certify the preliminary level testing.

Procedure

To make preliminary level testing more dependable and objective following procedure is suggested: -  

• Department should get samples of MFP. collected from various regions.  

• Grade them.  

• Sample coding should be done.  

• Such samples should be tested in accredited laboratories.  
  Benefit: - Such testing will provide a certificate to MFP collected from a particular area. It will give a general idea of quality of MFP growing in different regions.  

• This testing will help in prescribing Geographical/locational indicator to MFP and "Labeling" the produce.  

Those who do not require detail testing can fetch better price for their commodities by getting label from Forest department for their produce. 

It was also mentioned that existing laboratory facilities comprising infrastructure and skilled man-power will be used for getting products tested in the laboratories. Efforts will be made to build the capacity of the lab technicians as per requirement for lab testing. The certification agency can facilitate the upgradation of lab facilities it uses for mutual benefit.