Fisheries Minister AL Hek on Wednesday said that his department has decided to constitute a fact finding committee to find out the truth into the incident of formalin found in fishes imported from outside the state.
Addressing media persons, Hek said that the associations of fish farmers and fish wholesalers and retailers had met him and produced an inspection report of the Rask Force Team, Government of Andhra Pradesh which declared that no formalin/ammonia/banned/toxic products/chemicals applied in any manner in the fish now tested and intended for exports to other markets.
The state’s Food and Safety department had recently banned the sale of imported fish for 15 days, after 30 out of 42 samples have been tested positive for ‘formalin’.
“Therefore, we have decided to constitute a fact finding committee to find out the truth. I have told the Secretary of the department that we should have the report within a day or two,” Hek said.
He also said that the ongoing ban on the sale of fish should not be too long as it will affect the livelihood of the fish vendors.
“I feel we should have one unloading centre where they can check all these fishes coming from different parts of the country into the state,” he added.
When asked, the minister said, “Anything if it is illegal, we will take action. The government will take a call on the matter.”