The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland 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.
The Commissioner of Food Safety to the Government of Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, 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, 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, the notification stated.
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Further it said that non-compliance with the notification will attract penalties up to ₹10 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.
The department has also directed Designated Officer/Food Safety Officer of the districts to strengthen surveillance activity and carry out inspection, checking, testing, and sampling of the Fresh Fish consignment before distribution for sale under its jurisdiction.
