The Khasi Jaintia Fish Farmers, Wholesalers and Retailers Association has questioned the findings of widespread contamination of fish being sold in the state, which has led to a temporary ban on the imports from outside Meghalaya.
Food safety officials found that roughly 75 per cent of sampled fish tested positive for formalin, a banned substance used by unscrupulous persons to delay deterioration of fish meat.
The fish trade association, led by Mitchel Wankhar MDC, met Fisheries Minister AL Hek today. The minister was handed a report stating that fish from Andhra Pradesh, a key supplier to Meghalaya, unloaded at Khlieh Ïewduh are not positive for formalin.
Hek informed that his department will constitute a fact finding committee to arrive at the truth about the matter.
He also expressed concern that the ban on imports should be lifted at the earliest so as to reduce harm to those dependent on the trade. The ban was imposed for a period of 15 days.
