Government spokesperson and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh sought to clear the air today after Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma yesterday said that the state government would study the situation before lifting the ban on imported fish even though the restrictions had already been lifted two days prior.
Lyngdoh said that the CM may not have been briefed that the ban was to run only until June 24.
Shifting focus, she stated that, henceforth, random testing will continue and that the ban will be reinstated if future tests again find that fish have been contaminated with formalin (a chemical that prevents decay of organic matter but which is not edible) the ban will have to be reinstated.
Meanwhile, in a comment that may not go down well with fish importers, the minister hinted that imported fish, while legal to buy and eat, should be avoided, especially that which comes from a “particular state”.
“We should avoid it if you want to remain healthy and safe. Also, this (formalin contamination) is not happening only now, it has happened time and again. The tests keep revealing the fact, so stick to fish that is safe to eat,” Lyngdoh said.
In interactions with fish merchants, the government has been told that certificates from the exporting state certify that the fish is safe but Lyngdoh, who is the Health Minister, said that a certificate is not sufficient to protect vendors of contaminated fish from punishment.
“Where is this tampering of fish happening? These vendors need to figure it out because if I am bringing something to the market I have to ensure that full safety measures have been taken. You can’t keep passing the buck. There is a procedure for the violation of food safety and it shall be applied,” she warned.
