SHILLONG: Following the detection of poisonous formalin in the fish available in the markets across the state, the Meghalaya government has decided to take a permanent step in this direction. The state government will be setting up a permanent testing centre for checking the fish procured from other states at Khlieh Iewduh in the state.
DBS Mukhim, the Assistant Commissioner for Food Safety announced that select staff of the Fisheries Department will be given proper training so that they can carry out on-the-spot testing for formalin in this centre and issue identification cards for these people. The officer also added that the testing will be carried out in two-time slots per day at 7 AM and 1:30 PM respectively.
On detecting formalin in the samples, such fish will be destroyed and not be allowed to be returned and fish traders will be informed regarding the same. She also added that the food safety department and fisheries department are working with the association of fish traders in order to prevent the usage of such chemicals.
The Meghalaya government had earlier banned the sale, distribution, and storage of imported fish for a period of 15 days after a sample test of river water fish showed the presence of formalin. They had announced that if anyone violates the government order, the person would be punished with seven years in jail and a fine of Rs 10 lakh. In a notification, the state’s Commissioner for Food Safety, M. Kurbah, said that out of the 40 samples of fish tested, 30 were positive for formalin. The analysis reports from Tuesday from the Assistant Food Analyst of the Meghalaya government said that the samples were highly toxic and injurious to health.
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