Spices Board has established its first Quality Evaluation Laboratory(QEL) at Cochin in 1989. The second regional Quality Evaluation Laboratory is established at Mumbai during June 2008. The Third Laboratory is being established at Guntur, Andhrapradesh and is expected to be in operation during June 2009.

The laboratory at Kochin has the certification for the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System & ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System since 1997 &1999 respectively. It also has the Accreditation under ISO/IEC: 17025:2005 from the National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL) since 2004. The Laboratory at Mumbai is also in the process of obtaining NABL Accreditation. The Laboratory activities at Cochin and at Mumbai are fully computerized and linked with network and is in the process of providing the web enabled result delivery facility in the immediate future. Apart from the Analytical Services provided by QEL the other activities are as follows.

The Laboratory regularly participate in check sample/proficiency programmes organized by Food Analysis/Examination Proficiency Assessment Scheme (FAPAS/FEPAS) conducted by Central Science Laboratory, UK American Spice Trade Association (ASTA); Public Health Laboratory Services (PHLS), U.K.; Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA), U.K.; International Pepper Community (IPC), Jakarta and the proficiency testing programme organized by NABL. In addition to the above, laboratory participates in the ILC programs for the major parameters with various laboratories in major importing countries and laboratories attached to Spice Export units in India.

The laboratory is providing training to the technical personnel from the spice industry, Govt. officials and NGOs on the analysis of spices and spice products. Specialized training programmes for a period of 5 days are also designed to cater the needs of the industry. Training programmes in the field of physico-chemical analysis, analysis of pesticide residues, illegal dyes analyses, aflatoxin and microbiological analysis are provided on a regular basis by the Laboratory.

Under the Scheme "Spices Board Scheme for Laboratory Accreditation" the Laboratory will certify private sector/ the laboratories attached to spice industries after conducting the audit. The certificate issued is valid for a period of three years subjected to the periodic assessment.

Laboratory provides training to the technical personnel in the laboratories attached to the Spice Industries. The Laboratory also provides technical inputs under the various schemes of the Board.

The Board is taking part in the activities of Codex Alimentarius Commission/IPC/ISO. Spices Board is a member in the National Codex Committee. Spices Board Chairman holds the Chairmanship of the ISO/TC 34/SC7 Committee for Spice and Condiments, under ISO, which is under the Beuro of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi. The Laboratory provides the technical comments, data and inputs for the participation in these meeting and for the harmonization of various standards. The Laboratory is also providing data for the establishment of MRLs of pesticide residues in International Organizations such as Codex Alimentarius Commission, ISO etc.