Formalin test kits to reach Manipur soon
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 01 2018: Conveying that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will be sending experts/food analysts to Manipur within 10 to 15 days along with suitable kits to conduct qualitative tests for confirmation of presence of toxic substances in imported fish, Health Minister L Jayantakumar said that the temporary ban on imported ice-packed fishes in the State will not be lifted until FSSAI give a detailed account and take a concrete decision on the matter.

He was replying to a media query on the sideline of a free gas connection distribution function under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme held today at Pishum, near his residence.

The Minister said that he had already sent an official from Food Safety Manipur, a unit of Medical Department in the aftermath of the positive report in the laboratory test (conducted in the State) to check traces of formalin.

Stating that the ban on selling imported ice-packed imported fishes in Manipur was taken up as a temporary step to curtail the problem of health hazard in consideration of public welfare, he appealed all those, who have been affected by the temporary ban, to bear the inconvenience.

Chabungbam Sanajaoba, Nodal Officer, Food Safety, Manipur who also attended at the function elaborated that the Central Food Technological Research Institute will develop kits to check the presence of the toxic substance in fishes within 10 to 20 days.

He went on to say that the kit will be a simple design (like swab) and will be available at a meagre amount (within the range of Rs 3 to Rs 10).Once it is available in the State, the presence of formalin in fishes can be easily identified as one can conduct the test by adding some powder and rubbing it on the fish to check whether the fish contains formalin or not.

Officials of Food Safety are also planning to go and take the kits at the earliest, he added.

He further informed that FSSAI has also sent information about the presence of other toxic substance in ice-packed fishes, including antibiotics.

During the simple function held today, Minister Jayantakumar distributed free gas connections to 10 beneficiaries in his constituency.

Jayantakumar informed that free gas connection was given in association with Jemon Gas, Chingamathak under PMUY scheme while assuring that the initiatives will be further carried out in the days to come.

Comment