PANJIM: The State government has denied the harassment claims made by Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) designated officer Iva Fernandes, who exposed presence of formalin in fish July last year. 

The refutation was made in an affidavit before the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) on Tuesday, in response to the government officer’s complaint that she was being harassed after uncovering that Goa was importing chemically-laced fish. 

“All the designated officers are required to undergo training and in fact, the records will confirm that, it is at the initiation of the FDA that Iva, who was otherwise unqualified for lack of training as specified by the Food Authority under the Food Safety & Standards Rules, 2011 that she was selected and deputed for various programmes, as also induction training, which was initiated by FDA with special efforts for the benefit of Iva,” a joint reply by the government, Secretary (Health) and FDA, states.  The reply also counters allegations by Iva that FDA ‘is hell bent on finishing her career and getting rid of her. The respondents dismissed the allegations as ‘untrue’ and charged her with making wild allegations.

The FDA field officer had busted the alleged fish formalin racket in July 2018 by conducting on-the-spot test amidst crowd in Margao market. Her expose led to the ban on import of fish until the traders registered with the FDA and followed the norms laid down in connection with trading and selling fish. 

Fernandes thereafter approached the GHRC alleging harassment by the FDA and demanded an examination of phone records of senior officials of the department, which she said would establish their links to fish traders involved in using formalin to preserve fish stock. Further denying this allegation, the government called the statement as a figment of her imagination.  

“No evidence has been produced about the allegations on the supply of adulterated seafood to the populace and secondly, the allegations that FDA was helping the so called fish mafia, have also not been substantiated and is probably a figment of imagination of the complainant,” the affidavit stated adding that various teams were formed and deployed at the State’s borders to check the fish quality. The GHRC has adjourned the matter for final hearing on March 13.