Team Herald
CANACONA: Quality Council of India (QCI) has started checking all vehicles brining in fish through the Southern border of Goa since Tuesday.
Seven fish carrying vehicles were stopped at the Polem check post on Monday by QCI and after checking for required documentation and formalin test they were allowed to proceed to the SGPDA wholesale fish market in Margao. All vehicles passed the formalin test.
Sources who are keeping a close eye on the arrival of these fish trucks through Polem told this reporter that at least six QCI chemists were familiarised by FDA officials about the conditions laid down and tests to be conducted, by Goa FDA when it comes to the fish imported into Goa.
Since QCI, a Delhi based firm, took over from FDA they checked 16 fish trucks, 13 had come in the wee hours and three had come during the day on Wednesday.
The samples of fish taken from all these trucks were tested for presence of traces of formalin by a test developed by Central Institute of Fisheries and Technology hence CIFT test.
The Goa government appointed QCI, accredited nodal agency after satisfactory results of the test samples and proper documentation approved in writing the entry to the vehicles through Polem check post, sources said.
