To ensure high quality of cotton and textiles for both the domestic consumers as well as for the export markets, the Government is planning to approve setting up of 11 testing laboratories across the country.

There will be an investment of about US $  6-7 million in these labs and these will be 100 per cent funded by the Central Government to support the private sector, particularly the farmers, so that gradually they get the recognition for producing better quality cotton and they start getting a good value for their cotton.

Out of these 11 labs, seven will be hosted in the seven textile research associations and the others in 3-4 locations that will cover the entire country wherever cotton is grown.

Union Textile Minister Piyush Goyal said  that he has discussed with the Textile Ministry and the Consumer Affairs Department, who will work together with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for setting up high quality cotton and textile testing laboratories.

Addressing the four-day 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) the Minister said, “We want the most modern and high-quality testing laboratories to come up in different parts of the country, so that we can ensure that right from the farm till it reaches the consumers, we will make sure that very high quality textiles are available and are produced in India and are exported from India.”