September 20, 2012

In order to check indiscriminate use of toxic chemical in fish, the Bangladeshi government has distributed 78 digital formalin detection kits in different districts.

Informing this in the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday (Sep 17), Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister Md. Abdul Latif Biswas hoped that the people would soon be able to eat formalin-free fish as measures have already been adopted for stopping the use of toxic chemical in fish.

He was replying to a tabled question of treasury bench member Nasimul Alam Chowdhury who drew attention of the minister to the ill practice of mixing formalin alongside various hazardous colours including Sindoor (Vermillion) in fish posing a serious to human health in the country.

"It was found that a section of unscrupulous businessmen use colors-Jafran and Vermillion to beautify some big species of fish on a limited scale," Latif said adding that such act is banned as per Fish and Fish Products Rules '1997.

He said the government has been conducting mobile court drives to haats-bazaars (markets) for punishing the persons responsible for such illegal acts as per the law. A project titled 'Control of using formalin in fish preservation and creating awareness' has also been launched and the digital kits are being distributed to the district level to detect and check the use of formalin in fish, Latif Biswas said. The minister said the use of hazardous chemical and colours is reducing due to the above-mentioned steps undertaken by the government.