Bengaluru: The 4th National Tobacco Testing Laboratory (NTTL) was inaugurated at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), marking a significant step forward in tobacco product testing and public health research, the institute said. India currently operates three National Tobacco Testing Laboratories-an apex lab at the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) in Noida, and two regional labs at the Central Drug Testing Laboratory (CDTL) in Mumbai and the Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Guwahati. According to the PTI report, the new laboratory at NIMHANS is equipped to conduct comprehensive chemical and toxicological analyses of tobacco products, supporting the enforcement of regulatory standards and promoting scientific evaluation in line with national and international guidelines, the institute said in a statement. "The inauguration underscores a collaborative effort to strengthen tobacco control measures and enhance research capabilities for monitoring harmful substances in tobacco," the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences said. According to the institute, the laboratory's establishment at NIMHANS reinforces its commitment to advancing healthcare research and public health policy through cutting-edge technology and scientific excellence. "This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to evidence-based tobacco regulation and support government efforts to reduce the health burden caused by tobacco consumption in India," it added. had earlier reported that Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel launched the third edition of the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 at a hybrid event. Smt. Puniya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Shri. Amit Yadav, Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment; Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and Smt. V Hekali Zhimomi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, were also present. Also Read:NIMHANS launches Dementia and Geriatric Mental Health Programme