Panaji, November 11: The Goa government on Saturday announced a ban on the import of fish into the state for the next six months. This move came amid the scare that formalin, a potentially cancer-causing chemical, was used to preserve the fish. Vishwajit Rane, Goa Health Minister announced the ban and said that the ban can be extended by another six months if needed, till the measures are taken to check the quality of fish are in place in the state. Formalin In Fish: How To Detect The Cancer-Causing Chemical Contamination in Your Seafood.

For the second time, the state government is banning fish imports this year, earlier in July, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar imposed a ban for 15 days. But later, the ban was lifted after the government introduced border checks for monitoring the quality of fish imported to Goa. Formalin Scare: Goa Government Lifts Ban on Fish Import; Keeps Strict Vigil on Border.

Rane accused fish-importing traders of failing to comply with guidelines by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). Rane further told reporters that the government will set up testing laboratories with Central agencies like Export Inspection Council (EIC), Quality Council of India (QCI) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

What will happen if you eat fish laced with formalin?

Formalin or CH₂O is a preservative applied on the fish to prevent it from decaying. According to experts, CH₂O cannot be used for the preservation of fish which is meant to be consumed. According to a study, formalin is a cancer-causing agent. It is mostly used in mortuaries to preserve bodies. Eating Fish laced with Formalin can cause coughing, nausea and burning sensation in throat, nose and eyes. If consumed for a long time it can cause cancer.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 11, 2018 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).