The Department of Health & Family Welfare has notified fish vendors selling fresh fish products including Crustaceans treated with formalin, beyond permissible limits, which is highly toxic and harmful to health in violation of Government Notification NO.HFW/23/B-1/FSSA/2013/366 dated 21/12/2018 and in pursuance of Regulation 9.1 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additive Regulations 2011), the term "Fresh'" refers to Fish Products including Crustaceans that as untreated except for refrigeration, storage on ice or freezing upon catching at sea or in lakes or other water bodies to prevent decomposition and spoilage and distribution, storage and sale of fresh fish products treated or laced with formalin or other forms of preservatives beyond permissible limit render the food article as "Unsafe" under section 3(1) (ZZ)(V) of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
Therefore, in the exercise of the power conferred under Clause (a) of Sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Commissioner of Food Safety to the Government of Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, has prohibited the storage, distribution or sale of fresh fish and its products including Crustaceans treated with formalin or any other forms of chemical preservatives beyond permissible limit in the state of Nagaland with immediate effect.
Non-compliance with the notification would be an offense and will attract penalties up to Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakh) with imprisonment under section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 for selling fresh fish laced with Formalin beyond the permissible limit prescribed under section 2.6.2. of Food Safety and Standards (Food products standards and Additive) Regulations 2011.
Permissible Limit of Formaldehyde:
- Group I & II - Marine/Fresh Water Fish = 4.0 mg/ kg maximum limit.
- Group III - Marine = 8.0 mg/ kg maximum limit.
Further, the Designated Officer/Food Safety Officer of the districts has been directed to strengthen surveillance activity and carry out inspection, checking, testing, and sampling of the Fresh Fish consignment before distribution for sale under its jurisdiction.
(DIPR)