Mokokachung relaxes ban on sale, import of fish

Dimapur, May 30 (EMN): The Mokokchung administration has relaxed the ban on the sale and import of fish in the district. The authorities have listed a number of conditions for fish businesses to comply with, or face action.

The government’s publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) issued a press release to the media on Thursday informing about an order from the authorities informing about the change. 

Mokokchung’s Additional Deputy Commissioner W Manpai Phom informed that the sale and import of fish and fish products into the district ‘will’ be partially relaxed, the IPR stated. The decision to relax the ban partially was made during on May 1. The new order comes with a number of conditions.

The district administration has ordered that no sale or distribution of fish shall be allowed unless a sample of the consignment has been tested for presence of formalin or other harmful chemical preservatives that have been prohibited under relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 (FSSA).

Testing shall be done through the ‘formal route’ of the Food & Safety officer’s establishment.

Again, samples may be obtained from a particular consignment regularly or at random, ‘subject to reasonable suspicion.’ If needed, the already tested consignment may be put to test again on case-to-case basis, the IPR stated of the administration’s order.

“It shall be the duty of the wholesalers to inform the district administration and Food & Safety officer about arrival of fresh consignment, failing which shall be considered a wilful criminal intent to eclipse (sic) the information,” the updates stated.

“Unless the consignment does not get a clearance from the administration or Food & Safety officer, the fish products shall be considered deemed to be prohibited for sale and distribution.”

The administration has warned that failing to comply with the order and its terms shall be an offence under section-59 of the FSSA of 2006.

Traders are advised to maintain proper invoices and receipts so that in case of sample being tested positive of formalin and other harmful chemical preservatives the case may traced.

The administration and all line departments are directed to strengthen surveillance activities and carry out inspection, checking and testing from time to time, the IPR added.