SHILLONG: The state government has decided to lift the ban on import of fishes from August 22.
The statement came from Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek after the fish wholesellers and retailers association met him here on Thursday.
Though the government will allow fishes from outside to come to the state from August 22, tests for detecting formalin will continue and if the chemical is detected, authorities will take necessary measures, the minister made it clear as he said there was no compromise with the health of citizens.
Last month, the Meghalaya government imposed a 15-day ban on import and sale of fish after samples tested positive for the carcinogenic substance formalin. The ban was later extended for another 15 days.
Earlier, the fish association had urged the state government to lift the ban, KJW&FSA president Mitchell Wankhar said.
Wankhar said they had told the minister that import has been allowed in Assam and even other states of the country.
“The controversy over formalin is not restricted only to Meghalaya. But governments in other states have lifted the ban after reviewing the whole situation,” he added.
