The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) is one of the four departments under the Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MoHFS), Government of Nepal (GoN). The Department was established in 1961 AD as the Department of Food at Singha Durbar under the ministry responsible for agriculture at that time. In 1965, the Department was relocated to its current premises at Babarmahal, Kathmandu.
In 1966, the Department of Food was renamed the Food Research Laboratory. Subsequently, in 1980, it was upgraded and designated as the Central Food Research Laboratory. In 2000, the Central Food Research Laboratory was renamed the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) and became the third department under the then Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Since its establishment, DFTQC has been dedicated to ensuring the availability of safe, quality, and nutritious food for the people of Nepal. The Department has undertaken a wide range of activities related to food quality control, development and dissemination of food processing technologies, food research, and nutrition programs. Through these efforts, DFTQC has played a significant role in safeguarding public health, promoting food quality, and supporting the development of the food sector in Nepal.
As mandated by the Government of Nepal, DFTQC is the sole government authority responsible for implementing and enforcing food and feed laws, regulations, standards, and quality control measures throughout the country. The Department carries out regulatory oversight, laboratory testing and analysis, food inspection and monitoring, import and export certification, food safety surveillance, and various food technology and nutrition-related programs to ensure compliance with national requirements and to protect consumer interests.