Imphal: The All Manipur Fish and Egg Traders' Association (Amfeta) on Thursday demanded that the food safety department prove the authenticity of the presence of formalin in fish.
The department imposed a ban on import of fish preserved in ice from outside the state following complaints from various sections about presence of formalin on June 29.
It was banned after the department found presence of formalin in ice-packed fish.
The department continued to check formalin's presence by collecting some more fish samples from Imphal market.
Joint secretary of the association, A. Sashikumar, has sought clarification on how six samples were found to be formalin-positive out of 17 samples taken on July 2.
"From where, when and how were the samples taken?" he asked the food safety department.
Sashikumar added that the chief commissioner of land administration and special chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Anil Chandra Punetha, had clarified on Wednesday to Manipur's chief secretary Suresh Babu that formalin was not used as a preservative since it is hazardous to health.
Sashikumar said fish are imported from five companies of Andhra Pradesh. He, however, said he could not provide facts and data on the recent losses.
He added that normal consumption of 10,000 kg per day had reduced to 300-400 kg per day after the news broke about use of formalin.
Less ice-packed fish was seen selling in Imphal market on Thursday.
The traders said the food safety department has not intimated the traders directly.#There were only notifications in newspapers.
The department imposed a ban on import of fish preserved in ice from outside the state following complaints from various sections about presence of formalin on June 29.
It was banned after the department found presence of formalin in ice-packed fish.
The department continued to check formalin's presence by collecting some more fish samples from Imphal market.
Joint secretary of the association, A. Sashikumar, has sought clarification on how six samples were found to be formalin-positive out of 17 samples taken on July 2.
"From where, when and how were the samples taken?" he asked the food safety department.
Sashikumar added that the chief commissioner of land administration and special chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Anil Chandra Punetha, had clarified on Wednesday to Manipur's chief secretary Suresh Babu that formalin was not used as a preservative since it is hazardous to health.
Sashikumar said fish are imported from five companies of Andhra Pradesh. He, however, said he could not provide facts and data on the recent losses.
He added that normal consumption of 10,000 kg per day had reduced to 300-400 kg per day after the news broke about use of formalin.
Less ice-packed fish was seen selling in Imphal market on Thursday.
The traders said the food safety department has not intimated the traders directly.#There were only notifications in newspapers.
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