Tura, June 13: Following the revelation by Hub News that the Fisheries department in West Garo Hills does not have testing kits to check for formalin in fish coming into the district from outside the State, the office of the Deputy Commissioner has informed that they have the testing kits available with them.

The Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills Jagdish Chelani on Monday night informed that the testing kits are available in the district with the Food Safety Office.

He said kits to test atleast 100 samples are available.

However, Hub News has learnt that the district officials are yet to test the fish in the district’s markets for formalin in the imported fish.

It is to be mentioned that Meghalaya government banned the banned the sale of imported fresh fish for a period of 15 days, on June 8, 2023, after 30 out of 42 samples of fish were tested positive for ‘formalin’, which is an unpermitted preservative.

The Food Safety Standards Regulation, 2011, clearly states that the presence of formalin in any food product specially fish is not permitted. It is also categorised as a human carcinogenic, meaning it causes cancer. It states that consumption of 30ml or 37% of formalin at one go can even cause death in a person.

The Superintendent in-charge of Fisheries, West Garo Hills, Resa V. Ch. Sangma, had on Monday told Hub News that the district currently has no testing kit to check for formalin in fish. “We regret to inform you that due to the non-availability of a testing kit for formalin, we are unable to carry out any testing at the moment,” Sangma said while adding that “once we acquire the testing kit, we will be able to accurately assess the levels of formalin present in the fish.”

However, she assured that efforts are being made to acquire the testing kits, with some expected to be available to the officials in few days’ time. “We have previously sent a requisition for the testing kit, and we anticipate receiving it within the next few days. Once we have the kit, we will commence regular testing procedures,” she said.

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