SHILLONG, JULY 23: Meghalaya government today imposed a fifteen days ban on the import and sale of fish brought from outside the state after reports indicated traces of cancer causing chemical ‘formalin’.
In a notification issued here on Monday, Commissioner of Food Safety PW Ingty said, “… in exercise of the powers conferred under Clause (a) of Sub-Section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, the storage, distribution or sale of fresh fish or crustaceans brought from outside the state is hereby prohibited for a period of 15 days in the interest of public health or till corrective measures are taken with effect from the date of issue of this notification.”
“Non-compliance to this Notification will attract imprisonment up to seven years and fine up to Rs 10 lakhs as provided under Section 59 (iv) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006,” he stated.
According to the notification, out of the 19 samples tested and reports received, two samples have tested positive for formalin as per the analysis report of the Food Analyst to the Government dated July 20, which is highly toxic and injurious to health.
It stated that in pursuance of regulation 3.1.4 of the Food Safety & Standards (Food Products Standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 indicates the preservatives permitted to be used in select articles of food and formalin is not included in the said list of permitted preservation.
The notification also stated that distribution, storage and sale of fresh fish treated with formalin or other unpermitted preservatives render the articles “unsafe” under Section 3(1)(zz)(v) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
By Our Reporter
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