The Assam Government Tuesday banned fish brought from other States for 10 days after tests on fish samples confirmed the presence of formalin. Pijush Hazarika, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, had collected samples of fish imported to Assam from other States on June 29 after visiting various fish markets in Guwahati. The samples were sent for laboratory tests amid suspicion that fish traders were using large amounts of formalin.
And the tests confirmed the worst fears as they turned out to be ‘formalin positive’.
#BREAKING | Ban on import of fish to #Assam for 10 days after tests confirms presence of formalin in fish brought from other States. Fish samples were seized by MoS (Health) @Pijush_hazarika on June 29 and sent for necessary tests. pic.twitter.com/AqjYWVdoM9
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) July 10, 2018
Pijush Hazarika further said they will revoke the ban after conducting more tests and only if the tests turned ‘formalin negative’.
He also warned traders of punitive action, including arrests and prison terms up to seven years and hefty fines as high as Rs 10 lakh, if they did not desist from using formalin and other harmful chemicals as fish preservative.
