Food safety authorities in the State today have banned distribution and sale of fish and prawns brought from outside the State for 15 days from today in view of detection of formalin in fishes being sold in the State.
In a notification issued today, Commissioner of Food Safety Rosetta M. Kurbah said that out of 40 samples of fish tested, 30 samples have shown presence of formalin “which is highly toxic and injurious to health”.
The tests were conducted by the Assistant Food Analyst of the State government.
Kurbah also said that as per Regulation 3.1.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, the list of preservatives to be used in food is mentioned. However, formalin is not included in the list of permitted preservatives.
She also said that storage, distribution and sale of fish treated with formalin or other unpermitted preservatives render the fish “unsafe” under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.
“Therefore, in exercise of the power conferred under Clause (a) of Sub-Section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, the storage, distribution or sale of imported 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,” Kurbah said.
As per the notification, violators will be jailed for seven years along with fine of Rs 10 lakh as provided under Section 59 (iv) of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.
