Meghalaya bans import of fish for 15 days over formalin fears

GUWAHATI: Meghalaya government has banned for 15 days the import and sale of fresh fish brought from outside the state, after samples tested positive for the carcinogenic substance formalin.

The state government on Tuesday issued a notification prohibiting the storage, distribution or sale of fresh fish or crustaceans brought from outside the state for a 15- day period.

"Out of the 19 samples tested and reports received, two have tested positive for formalin as per the analysis report of the Food Analyst to the Government dated July 20, which is highly toxic and injurious to health," a notification from Food Safety Commissioner PW Ingty said.


Non-compliance to this notification will attract imprisonment up to seven years and fine up to Rs 10 lakh as provided under Section 59 (iv) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, he said.

Formalin is a colourless solution of formaldehyde in water, used chiefly as a preservative for biological specimens. Long exposures are known to cause cancers of the blood and lymphatic systems in humans.

Meghalaya is the third state in the region - after Assam and Nagaland - to temporarily prohibit the storage, distribution or sale of fresh fish including crustaceans brought from outside the state.