Rane presses for another ban on import of fish in Goa

Goa Food and Drugs Administration Minister Vishwajit Rane said Monday that he has asked the secretary of health department to move a note to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, seeking a ban on the import of fish.

During a recent meeting with FDA officials there was a discussion on dealing with the fear that the fish coming from outside the state may have been preserved by using formalin, he said.

"I have requested the secretary of Health department to move a note to the chief minister regarding imposing ban on the import of fish for a period of 30 days," Rane said.

Import of fish from outside had been banned earlier during July-August this year for fear of presence of formalin, which is toxic, in the fish.

Until a state-of-the-art facility to check quality of fish is not set up in Goa, a ban on import is necessitated, the minister said.