Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) is one of the three departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal. It was established in 1961 as the Food Department and housed in Singha Darbar, which was later shifted to its present location in Berbar Mahal, Kathmandu in 1965. In 1966, the name of the Department of Food was changed to Food Research Laboratory. The laboratory was later converted again into the Central Food Research Laboratory (CFRL) in 1980 and as mentioned earlier it was known as the Central Food Laboratory until it became the current department under the MoAD in 2000 as the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC).

Since its inception, DFQC has played a pioneering role in laying the foundation for food quality control systems, research and development in the field of food science and technology and nutrition support programs. As mandated by the Government of Nepal, DFTQC is the apex body responsible for the implementation of food laws and regulations. It is also working for the implementation of Feed Act and Regulations. The main objective is to ensure the quality and safety of food and feed products in the country. Further, the department has a major role to play in promoting appropriate food processing and post-harvest technologies to promote agribusiness. Similarly, the department has been conducting various activities related to food and nutrition to reduce various types of malnutrition in the country. DFTQC has been entrusted as the Codex Contact Point for Nepal for more than three decades, having also been given the role of National SPS Inquiry Point in 2004.

There are currently two Divisions (Food and Feed Safety and Quality Regulation Division and Food Technology Development and Nutrition Division), one National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory, one SPS National Enquiry Point, one Codex and Infosan Secretariat at center Kathmandu. Whereas Eight Food Technology and Quality Control Offices (Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Bhairahawa, Nepalganj, Dhangadhi, Pokhara and Surkhet), 12 Food Import Export Quality Certification Offices (Kakarbhitta, Rani, Jaleshwar, Birgunj, Tribhuvan International Airport, Belahiya, Krishnanagar, Nepalganj, Dhangadi, Mahendranagar, Rasuwa and Tatopani); and twenty two Food Technology and Quality Control Division Offices (Jhapa, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Udaypur, Saptari, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Chitwan, Parsa, Sindhuli, Dhulikhel, Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Tanahu, Kapilvastu, Palpa, Baglung, Dang, Jumla, Baitadi, Doti and Dadeldhura) total 42 office are under this department . All together 43 offices and 370 people are working for this department to ensure food and feed safety in Nation.

Create environment for availability of wholesome, safe and nutritious food to all Nepali citizens and facilitate food trade.

• Safeguard and protect the health of consumers by assuring the availability of safe and nutritious food with the creation of awareness among producers, traders as well as consumers and facilitate food trade in a coordinated and collaborative approach based on scientific evidence with the updated regulatory framework.
• Promote food businesses by developing appropriate food processing technology through R & D and disseminating and adopting the outcome of research for the development of food processing enterprises.
• Promote nutritional status of people through the development of food based nutritional approaches.

• Ensure availability of wholesome, safe and nutritious food to the consumer by assuring the quality in food production and trade.
• Develop and disseminate appropriate food processing technology to promote entrepreneurship.

DFTQC has the following three major objectives:

• Maintain safety and quality of food and feed products in the country by implementing updated food and feed act and regulations.
• Promote entrepreneurship by developing and disseminating appropriate technologies.
• Improve nutritional status of the people through food-based approaches.