Geo-Chem inaugurates food safety laboratory in Navi Mumbai, India

Geo-Chem Laboratories – part of the Cotecna Group – has formally inaugurated a food analysis laboratory in the western Indian state of Maharashtra to expand its analytical capacity and help meet demand for food safety and quality requirements both within country and internationally.

Geneva, Switzerland-based Cotecna has announced the formal inauguration of Geo-Chem Laboratories’ food analysis laboratory in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, as part of its continued investment in food safety, quality assurance and laboratory services in India. Cotecna is a leading provider globally of testing, inspection, and certification services in food safety and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and other sectors.

The laboratory has expanded the group’s analytical infrastructure in India, where food manufacturers, exporters, retailers and brands face increasingly complex requirements for product safety, quality and regulatory compliance. Cotecna said the facility had been designed to provide reliable, accurate and timely analytical services across a broad range of products.

Equipped with modern analytical infrastructure and supported by experienced scientific staff, the laboratory is intended to help businesses assess their products against applicable requirements. Access to reliable analytical results can help companies identify potential problems, make informed decisions about product quality and demonstrate compliance to customers and regulators.

At the inauguration, Sébastien Dannaud, group chief executive officer of Cotecna highlighted the importance of greater analytical capacity in India’s food sector. He also reaffirmed Cotecna’s commitment to support food businesses through its services for tests, inspections and certification.

The investment comes as India continues to play an increasingly important role in global food supply chains. Businesses that supply domestic and export markets must respond to expectations from regulators, commercial customers and consumers, while also accounting for differences between national and international requirements.

Laboratory analysis provides evidence to support these decisions, although the requirements that apply depend on the product and its intended market. Cotecna said the facility would help customers address these demands and maintain compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

The group presented the laboratory as part of a broader effort to combine Cotecna’s international experience and laboratory network with Geo-Chem’s local scientific expertise and knowledge of the Indian market. This combination is intended to strengthen the support available to customers across India and beyond.

The laboratory has also strengthened Cotecna’s regional presence and its capacity to support safer trade through analytical, inspection and certification services. The group said its continued investment in staff, technology and infrastructure reflected the increasing demand for food safety and quality assurance.

Chopra said the facility reinforced the group’s commitment to innovation, growth and services tailored to customer needs. Avinash Maheshwari, chief executive officer of Geo-Chem Laboratories emphasised its role in service quality and the expansion of Geo-Chem’s analytical capabilities to meet the food industry’s evolving requirements.