Goa bans the import of fish for 15 days after formalin scare

PANAJI: The Goa government on Wednesday banned the import of fish from other states till August 3 as a cautionary measure following reports that fish consignments coming into the state had traces of formalin, a carcinogenic preservative.

Fish stocks normally arrive in the state early morning each day from states on the eastern coast, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

“This (decision) has been taken in the interest of the health of the citizens. To avoid controversies and confusion we have decided to stop the import of fish

from other states for fifteen days that will continue up to third August,” chief minister Manohar Parrikar said.

Fish forms an integral part of Goa’s cuisine. The state imports around 200 tonne of it from other states to meet local demand during the annual two-month monsoon fishing ban along India’s west coast from June 1 to July 31.

Parrikar said trawlers would be allowed to venture into the sea from August 1, which would ensure that the state’s people are able to get fresh fish. During the monsoon, residents of Goa have traditionally relied on preserved fish -- either salted or pickled.

Late last week, following suspicions of fish coming in from other states being laced with formalin, officials of the Food and Drugs Administration conducted tests at Goa’s Margao wholesale fish market.

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