PANJIM: It has almost been a month since Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had said that fish traders operating from outside the State and involved in transporting fish to Goa shall obtain licences from the State Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). However, none of the traders involved in the fish trade have either registered for or possess a license.
As per Rane, fish traders who did not possess licence or registration from the FDA would not be allowed to import fish into the State. Despite this, vehicles are moving unchecked without necessary permits.
Sources from the FDA confirmed that not a single trader had applied for the licence under the Food and Safety Standards Act of India (FSSAI). As per information available, till August 26, nearly 1,371 trucks entered the State through Pollem and 398 from Patradevi check-post.
“When it was announced that the traders needed to apply for a licence to enter the State, some of them came to the FDA to enquire but nobody applied for the same. The traders are not
registered with Goa FDA nor have licence from their own States,” FDA sources said. FDA Director Jyoti Sardesai was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.
It was also revealed that the FDA teams posted at two check-posts – Pollem and Patradevi – have been monitoring the fish vehicles entering the State but licences are not being checked. With almost a month gone by no traders involved in the fish trade have been registered nor complied with the order.
Rane on August 2 had clearly stated that vehicles brought in by traders without licence under Food Safety and Standards Act, would not be allowed to enter the State.
“The rules are now made stringent with fish traders from Goa dealing with the import of fish from outside the State should ensure that they shall obtained the licence or registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 from the FDA within 15 days from the date of issue of this circular,” Rane had said.
Congress President Girish Chodankar said, “FDA testing mechanism cannot be trusted, considering its past goof-up over formalin laced fish report. Moreover, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is on record on the floor of the House that FDA lacks the required technology and the same would be put in place soon.”
