Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government has appointed 23 public food analysts.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development announced the appointments as per the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2024, publishing a notice on the Nepal Gazette on Monday.
As per Section 39 (1) of the Act, the ministry can appoint an officer from the federal, provincial government or local Level, or a person working in a food laboratory, as a Public Food Analyst. Such appointees must hold at least a postgraduate degree in Food Science, Food Technology or Chemistry and must have a minimum of five years of experience in food research or analysis.
According to the ministry, senior food research officers from the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and its subordinate offices have been designated as public food analysts.
The ministry has designated Pramod Koirala, Dr. Huma Kumari Bakhi, Mohan Krishna Maharjan, Mahipal Ram Vaidya, Vijay Khanal and Krishna Prasad Rai Kamal Prasad Regmi, Shivasagar Chaudhary and Navaraj Dahal as public food analysts.
Likewise, Hasta Bahadur Rai, Bimal Kumar Dahal, Dr Kshitiz Shrestha, Bhim Prasad Pulami, Suman Dhital, Jyotsna Shrestha, Sanjay Bhandari, Anup Haluwai, Dr Bal Kumari Sharma, Ramesh Khadka, Hareram Pradhan, Kashi Nath Ghimire, Prashant Pokharel and Pratima Shrestha have also been named as food analysts.
Public food analysts are required to test food samples collected by a food inspection officer or any other authorized officer and submit the analysis report to the concerned officer or office.
