Panaji, Jul 23 (UNI) Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday told State Assembly that criminal action would be initiated against the fish traders if fish samples are not found passing the screening test for presence of formalin in it and the traders are found guilty.
Replying to calling attention motion moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nilesh Cabral and Congress MLA Aleixo Lourenco, the Chief Minister said,’’ If the fish samples are found passing the screening test, the fish consignment will be allowed to be sold. If the CIFT (Central Institute of Fisheries Technology), Cochin, validated screening test result shows that there is contamination by the added formaldehyde, then the results will be confirmed by subjecting to confirmatory test at Food and Drugs Administration Laboratory as per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. Depending upon the results obtained by the confirmatory tests at the FDA further action such as releasing the consignment for consumption or destruction of the consignment will be initiated. Also, criminal action as the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act shall be initiated against the concerned fish dealer.’’
Mr Parrikar said to sensitise the local vendors and traders who were dealing with the fish imported from other states, about the harmful effects of use of formaldeyde as a preservative, the FDA in association with the Fisheries Department would organise sensitisation programme for the wholesale and retail traders so as to enable and equip them to identify fish laced with fomaldehyde.
The Chief Minister also urged the MLAs to refrain from ‘politicising’ the issue and support the government on action taken and proposed to the taken.
‘’Fish being the staple food of the Goans and the issue on hand has a direct bearing on the health of Goans, I would urge upon all the members of the House to refrain from politicising the issue and request all of them to support the government on the action taken and proposed to be taken for addressing the issue,’’ he said.
UNI AKM 1417