PANJIM: Stating that stoppage of vehicles carrying fish has affected nearly 10,000 families dependent on the business, the Margao Wholesale Fish Traders Association on Wednesday sought two months’ time to obtain all the required licences for trade, demanding that meantime the import should be resumed by conducting tests to ensure that fish supplied is chemical free.
The members of Margao Wholesale Fish Traders Association (MWFTA) on Wednesday afternoon submitted a memorandum to Director Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Jyoti Sardesai demanding that FDA officer Iva Fernandes be appointed as the in-charge of fish testing facility across all the markets.
The memorandum said that the wholesale fish industry and vendors are going through a major crisis due to stoppage of vehicles carrying fish to Goa. “Stoppage of the vehicles carrying fish has affected at least 10,000 families who are dependent on this business. It will also affect the hospitality industry and restaurant business,” said a MWFTA member.
As per the guidelines set by the FDA, the fish traders have to obtain trade licence and vehicles have to be insulated. For the past fortnight, there has been no import of fish in Goa. “No truck with fish has been entering the State and the markets are wearing a deserted look,” the MWFTA member added.
“While we appreciate and fully agree to adhere to the guidelines in the circular issued by FDA, we would like two months grace period to complete the formality,” the memorandum stated, adding “having trade licence is not an overnight job as it requires lot of formalities to be completed and as such the members have begun collecting the required documents.”
“In the meantime, we would urge you to appoint Iva Fernandes as the in-charge of fish testing facility across all the markets. We are ready to provide office space for FDA at the Margao Wholesale Fish market. We request you to start testing of the fish with immediate effect under her guidance,” the memorandum requested.
The Association assured that the wholesale fish traders and fish vendors will fully cooperate with the officer and that the Association is taking all the responsibility.
It claimed that the fish traders and vendors have always been providing clean and fresh fish to the people. “But recent doubt of chemicals being used on the fish has created an atmosphere of suspicion,” the memorandum stated.
