The Public Health and Food Safety (PHFS) Inspectorate Unit is responsible for the protection of public health in order to promote a healthy living environment. It enforces, inter-alia, the Public Health Act 1925, the Food Act 2022, the Quarantine Act 2020 and its Regulations, the Dangerous Chemicals Control Act as subsequently amended and other related Regulations including the International Health Regulations. Its objective is to sustain measures for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, environmental sanitation, and food safety.

The different activities include:

• Environmental sanitation;
• Prevention and control of epidemic-prone communicable diseases (vector-borne diseases);
• Food safety control comprising food hygiene, food seizures, food sampling, food handlers training, food poisoning, Pre-Market Approval Permit (PMAP); Food Import Unit, Squad Operations and school canteens inspections;
• Tobacco control;
• Port Health Activities namely the Sea Port and the Airport; and
• Rodent control.

In Mauritius, the management of public health risks such as unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, noise, and odor pollution, require institutional and technical capacities in order to assess, correct, control, and prevent those risks in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations. As the Environment Protection Act (2002), the responsibility to manage these public health risks falls under the purview of the EHEU of Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The Professional Cadre of the EHEU also assists the Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry as regards to conception and implementation of civil construction related to projects of the Ministry. In this respect, this unit also participates in evaluation, preparation of Terms of Reference for major projects and attending site visits/meetings with consultants and contractors.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005, the Occupational Health Unit which operates under the aegis of the MOHW, caters for workers employed in the public sector. The Dangerous Chemicals Control Board, the Migrant Worker Section and the PER Section are other sections that fall under the Occupational Health Unit. The aim of an Occupational Health Service is to have a healthy workforce.

The Communicable Disease Control Unit (CDCU) at national level is under the supervision of the RPHS of CDCU and Director Health Services (Preventive). It serves as the primary agency for the control and prevention of communicable diseases. CDCU manages and coordinates the work at the regional level, is responsible for the analysis and interpretation of data, submission of reports, which are essential for the planning, implementation and evaluation of appropriate public health measures.

The Government Analyst Division (GAD) is the Chemical Laboratory of the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and falls under the directorate of Public Health. The division is a one-stop-shop for chemical analysis.

The activities at the Division are:

1. Regulatory activities
• Food analysis as per Food Act
• Alcohol analysis as per Exercise Act
• Drinking water analysis as per Environmental Protection Act

2. Clinical analysis
• Toxicological screening for body fluids from patients in poisoning cases
• Heavy metals in Biomedical samples

3. Occupational Health
• Determination of blood cholinesterase level for exposure to pesticides
• Heavy metals in Body fluids for industrial workers

4. Quality Control of Pharmaceuticals

5. Support activities for Ministry of Health and Wellness
• Dialysis water quality from Haemodialysis Unit
• Methadone quality for Harm Reduction Unit

6. Analysis of samples submitted by the Dangerous Chemical Control Board

7. Analysis of food samples served during official banquets and investigation of food poisoning

The GAD caters for both public and private entities. Private firms and individuals are charged fees for services from GAD.

The GAD carries out tests on around 3500 samples per year corresponding to 35000 test parameters.

The GAD has a staff of 33 including Government Analysts, Technical Officers and General Services officers.

MISSION STATEMENT

To achieve our vision, the following rules shall be guide us in the journey to organisational excellence, in terms of product/service, customer, resources, geographical, technological and ethical aspects:

• Products/Service
  We shall provide high standard of testing services using validated and internationally recognised test methods.We will work towards constantly improving our services and reducing turnaround time.
• Customer
  We shall commit ourselves in maintaining customer satisfaction
• Resources
  We shall provide adequate training to our personnel to enable them deliver to their full potential. We shall promote self-improvement for our personnel and welcome innovative ideas from all.
• Geographic
  We shall provide our laboratory services for the betterment of the people of the Republic of Mauritius promoting good health, fostering economic growth and preservation of the environment.
• Technology
  We shall always make full use of analytical testing tools, techniques and available technologies through internationally organised events, proficiency testing and inter-laboratory comparison exercises.
• Ethics
  We shall strive to ensure that activities are carried out in an ethical manner to ensure that the integrity of the sample and results while providing full confidentiality and impartiality. We shall respect the dignity of every person and be courteous at all times.

ACCREDITATION

The GAD is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 quality management system. The Certificate of Accreditation and Accredited Parameters are:

https://www.mauritas.org/files/T040.pdf

Please note: The accreditation of the Government Analyst Division or any of its reports or certificates in no way constitute or imply product, process, service, management system or person (where relevant) approval by MAURITAS

Procedure for submission of samples to GAD for analysis.

1. Clients shall request GAD for a quotation by email moh-gad@govmu.org. Please include number of samples and specify test parameters required.

Only an official quote will be accepted when submitting samples.

2. GAD will prepare and send quotations to the clients by email accompanied with the relevant request Forms.

3. Clients shall then take an appointment for submission of sample by email or phone (466 5601).

4. Clients will submit samples at GAD premises (quantity to the submitted will be specified in the quotation).

The exact amount shall be tendered. Cheques should be addressed to “Government of Mauritius”.

5. GAD will communicate the reports to the customer by mail. It is also possible to make arrangements to collect the reports at GAD premises.

Downloads:

List of test parameters offered by the Government Analyst Division with indicative fees

Request Forms

Request form Private food Samples
Request form Trace Elements in Body Fluids- Private
Request form Cholinesterase level – Private
Request form Dialysis Water
Request form Health Office Food Samples
Request form Methadone analysis
Request form Non-Food
Request form Pharmaceuticals Products
Request form Toxicology
Request form Health Engineering Unit– Water

Contact Details

Government Analyst Division

Contact person : Dr V. Goury
Designation       : Chief Government Analyst
Tel                       : 466 5601
Fax                      : 466 1621
Address             : Government Analyst Division, Ministry Of Health and Wellness,
1st Floor, National Laboratories Complex, Réduit, Mauritius
Postal code       : 80835
Email                  : moh-gad@govmu.org

The responsibilities of vector studies, surveillance and strategical control are vested to the Vector Biology and Control Division (VBCD) of the MOHW.  The overarching objective of the Division is to gear Mauritius to be free from resurging/newly emerging vector-borne diseases and to prone efficient control of existing vectors of such diseases in the country.