Lok Sabha Question No. 383 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Use of Chemical Formalin in Preservation of Fish
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Santosh Kumar Gangwar

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION No. 383 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH   MARCH, 2023

## Use of Chemical Formalin in Preservation of Fish

## *383. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR

Will  the  Minister  of FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps taken by the Government to combat the use of the chemical formalin in preserving fish; and
- (b) whether there is any regulation with respect to the issue of contamination of fish and other sea foods and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING:

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (b): A Statement is placed on the Table of the House

Statement referred to in reply to the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *383 put in by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon'ble Member of Parliament due for answer on 28 th March 2023 regarding 'Use of Chemical Formalin in Preservation of Fish'.

(a): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has taken  up  the  matter  of  use  of  chemical  formalin  in  preservation  of  fish  with  State Governments and UTs requesting to take necessary safety measures and regulatory actions in this regard. In order to tackle harmful use of formalin in fish and fishery products intended for  human consumption the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has advised the State  Governments/UTs  and  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  for setting up a task force including concerned States Departments/agencies for joint inspection and testing of chemical substances like formalin content in fish using CIFT (ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi) test kits named 'CIFTest Kit' in respective States. To ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food to the consumers, regular surveillance, monitoring,  inspection  and  random  sampling  of  food  products  including  fish  and  fishery products are being carried out by the officers of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs  to  ensure  compliance  of  the  standards  laid  down  under  the  Food  Safety  and Standards  Act,  2006,  and  the  Rules  and  Regulations  made  thereunder.  In  cases  where  the food  samples  including  fish  and  fishery  products  are  found  to  be  non-conforming  to  the notified  standards,  penal  action  is  initiated  against  the  defaulting  food  business  operators under the provisions specified under the above said Act.

(b): The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, the Rules and Regulations made thereunder, do not permit the use of formaldehyde or formalin in any form including as preservative and/or additive  in  fish.  The  enforcement  of  this  Act  and  its  Rules  and  regulations  primarily  rests with  State  Governments  and  UTs.  For  combating  use  of  formalin  in  fish  and  fisheries products,  FSSAI  had  issued  a  Guidance  Note  No.  01/2018,  which  includes  advice  for consumers, food business operators and food testing laboratories. FSSAI has notified Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, which specifies the microbial parameters for fish and seafood. Further, FSSAI has framed regulation for  the  limits  of  Formaldehyde  for  different  species  of  Fish.  In  regulation  2.6.2  of  Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, the amount of naturally occurring formaldehyde in different species of fish is specified.