The district administrations of Mokokchung and Zunheboto in Nagaland have ordered ban on the import of fresh fish and other fish products into the districts, following the reports of fish imports failing tests for toxic chemical formalin.
Also read: Nagaland municipal bodies seize formalin-laced fishes
According to an official bulletin, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mokokchung, in an order, has strictly prohibited import of fresh fish and other fish products into Mokokchung district from outside till further order.
The Deputy Commissioner warned that failure to comply with the order would be punished as per the provision of the law, the official bulletin stated.
On June 28, 2018, the district administration along with MMC and officials from medical and food safety conducted a raid and seized a few kilos of fish containing formalin from fish retailer at Alongmen ward in Mokokchung, which was disposed off the same day.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto, Shanavas C, in an order, has prohibited sale of fresh fish products, including crustaceans and excluding live fish, till further notice or until such time the availability of fresh fish in the district was certified as safe for human consumption by the food safety officers.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that there were numerous reports that the fish vendors were found selling fresh fish products treated with formalin in the various parts of the State.
The Deputy Commissioner further stated that instances of availability of such treated fresh fish product in the district cannot be ruled out since almost all the fresh fish products were imported from outside the State.