The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) is one of the four Departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Government of Nepal (GON). It was established in 1961 A.D. as the Department of Food and placed in Sighadarwar, which latter in 1965 was shifted to the present location of Babarmahal, Kathmandu. In 1966 the Department of Food was then renamed as Food Research Laboratory. The Laboratory later in 1980 was again converted to Central Food Research Laboratory and known by this name until it became the present name as Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in the year 2000.

Form the very beginning of its establishment, DFTQC played a pioneer role to lay down foundation stone for food quality conrol system, R&D of food processing and nutrition support programming. As mandated by GON, DFTQC is the sole governmental agency for implementing the Food Act & Regulation as well as Feed Act and safety of food and feed enhancement of quality and safety of food and feed products in the country. Further, the Department has a paramount role in augmenting appropriate food processing and post harvest techniques to promote agribusiness. Various food and nutrition activities for the reduction of various form and types of malnutrition in the country DFTQC, as has been entrusted as CODEX, Contract, Point for Nepal for more than there decades, has also been given the role of National SPS Enquiry Point in 2004.