In addition, it would also be able to provide globally accepted test reports on quality of tea and fish exports as and when required. "Another advantage of this sophisticated machine made in USA is that it could also measure the quality of imported drugs as well as determine the quality of imported pesticides," said Chairman, ITI, Niroshana Perera.

He said that the order to bring down this machine was placed by the former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and the cost is around Rs. 55 million. "This machine would create a major void for both importers and exporters dealing in consumable goods and pharmaceutical."

"With LC-MS/MS now ITI can perform analytical testing's for wider range of food toxins, food adulterants, antibiotic residues, pesticide residues in water, tea, spices, fruits & vegetables fish etc. The greatest advantage ITI has with LC-MS/MS is the ability to detect chemical species at trace levels and ability to confirm the chemical species with maximum accuracy.

The FDA and EU DG-SANCO guidelines are met with ITI test reports by LCMS/MS."