China complains about toxic chemicals in Indian oilmeal

NEW DELHI: Following a complaint from China about the presence of a toxic chemical in mustard seed meal imported from India, an apex body of Indian vegetable oil extractors has decided to analyse samples of rape/mustard seed extract to detect the source of the adulterant.

China has complained about the presence of Malachite Green, a highly toxic chemical, in the mustard seed meal that it imported from India, the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) said in a statement.

Malachite Green is an organic compound that is used for dying materials such as silk, leather and paper.

"We have received a communication from the Indian Embassy, Beijing, informing that the Chinese phytosanitary department has traced malachite green in Indian rape seed meal in the range of 0.5 to 2 ppb (parts per billion) in the recent shipments," SEA Executive Director B V Mehta said.

"This is a serious matter keeping in view the importance of the Chinese market," SEA said.

SEA has decided to analyse samples of rapeseed, rapeseed cake and extractions drawn from different regions of the country for the presence of the toxic chemical, Mehta added.

India exported 1.56 lakh tonnes of rapeseed meal to China in the April-June, 2011, period.

Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are the major mustard producing states in India.