In a significant development for the handicrafts sector, the Testing Laboratory of the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, has received renewal of the prestigious NABL Accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).The accreditation, granted under No. TC-17910, was renewed following a detailed technical audit and inspection conducted by experts deputed by NABL to assess compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, a mandatory requirement under NABL guidelines.
The IICT testing laboratory provides a range of testing and certification facilities to the handicrafts industry, including GI tagging and certification of Kashmiri hand-knotted carpets through a cloud-based QR code management system. The facility is stated to be the first of its kind in the sector.
Officials said that around 21,500 hand-knotted carpets have been labelled and certified by the laboratory so far. The laboratory is also engaged in testing non-GI handmade Pashmina shawls, stoles and rumals on demand.Over the past few years, the laboratory has undergone significant upgradation with financial assistance from the Central Wool Development Board and the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. High-end digital microscopes and other advanced testing and IT equipment have been procured to enhance the laboratory’s testing capacity and improve service delivery.
Officials said the renewal of NABL accreditation would further strengthen the laboratory’s testing systems and procedures, ensuring improved quality standards and greater accuracy in results.
