Introduction

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control was established with the objective of developing and expanding food processing technology based on agricultural products, conducting nutritional status surveys in different parts of the country, and drafting food acts/regulations to ensure the supply of quality food products to consumers. In B.S. 2018, it was established as the Food Department under the then Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. With structural expansions and changes over time, it now exists as the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in the federal structure. Similarly, the Food Act was formulated in B.S. 2023 (replaced by the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 in B.S. 2081), and the Food Regulation was drafted and enforced in B.S. 2027. Likewise, with the intention of ensuring the supply of quality feed for livestock and poultry farming, the Feed Act was enforced in B.S. 2033 and the Feed Regulation in B.S. 2041. Since then, the department and its subordinate offices have been carrying out the quality control of food and feed products. Under the department, there are currently Food Technology and Quality Control Offices in Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, and Dhangadhi. Likewise, there are 22 division offices and 12 food import–export quality certification offices. The Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Nepalgunj, established in B.S. 2050, previously had its working area under the then Mid-Western Development Region, which included the districts of Banke, Bardiya, Jajarkot, Eastern Rukum, Western Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan, Dang, Surkhet, Jumla, Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, Kalikot, Rolpa, and Dailekh. The Surkhet Division Office under this office was upgraded in B.S. 2079, and after restructuring accordingly, the working area of this office now consists of 6 districts: Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Pyuthan, Rolpa, and Eastern Rukum. Among the Food Technology and Quality Control Division Offices established in B.S. 2075, the Food Technology and Quality Control Division Office, Tulsipur, Dang currently falls under this office.