Team Herald
PANJIM: The state government on Wednesday conveyed its decision to the High Court of Bombay at Goa that it will make available formalin testing kits in pharmacies nearby major markets.
However, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is yet to file its reply to the HC. The next hearing has been kept for October 15.
During the hearing, reports of FDA officer Iva Fernandes of July 12 and 16 were submitted before the court while the petitioners prayed for a judicial enquiry in the entire formalin in fish episode.
The state government had earlier informed the HC that a specialised kit was not used for testing if fish was laced with formalin at Margao market on July 12, which led to the alleged detection of the prohibited substance.
The government had also said that once the samples were sent to the FDA laboratory, no added formalin was found. “The analysis was a misnomer. Natural formalin is present in fish,” government advocate Pravin Phaldesai said.
The high court has given FSSAI two weeks time to file its reply in the matter, stating that it is the main authority.
Considering the importance of the issue and implications, the high court had also issued directions to the FSSAI to depute a responsible officer to Goa for the matter.
