REVEALED IN REPORT
>> FDA Director told the designated officer to send the samples to the FDA laboratory
>> In officer's opinion, this was not required as the tests already performed were qualitative
>> Food Analysts reported that the test for formal/formaldehyde was within permissible limits
>> Food Analyst failed to mention his findings on the permissible limit, in the reports
>> The vehicles were released declaring the fish as safe for human consumption
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PANAJI: In a new revelation, information secured under the Right to Information Act shows FDA director Jyoti Sardessai overruling the opinion of the 'Designated Officer' for South Goa Iva Fernandes on July 12 and forcing her to refrain from sealing the fish trucks after spot tests found 17 samples positive for toxic formalin.
A damning 4-page report, dated July 16, filed by Fernandes said: "Director of Food and Drugs Administration contacted me over the phone of Mr Ibrahim and informed me to send the samples to the FDA laboratory in Bambolim for further testing."
Fernandes also says in the report that in her opinion this was not required at that stage as the tests already performed were qualitative to find out only if 'Formalin' was present.
Her report clearly raises questions over the findings of the tests conducted at the FDA's Bambolim laboratory and calls them "unreliable".
"I was surprised to learn the result of the report. The Food Analysts reported that the test for formal/formaldehyde was within permissible limits and can be considered safe," Fernandes said in the report, adding elsewhere in it that the Food Analyst "failed to mention his findings on the permissible limit, in the reports."
Fernandes, in the report, has also flagged the FDA director's decision to instruct Senior Food Safety Officer Abel Rodrigues to convey the findings of the Food Analyst directly to Ibrahim.
"The vehicles were released declaring the fish as safe for human consumption," Fernandes said in the report adding that no further action could be taken under FSS Act.
As 'Designated Officer' for South Goa, Fernandes says, she had the powers under the Food Safety and Standards Act, including all administrative powers to suspend, cancel or revoke licences of Food Business Operators after scrutiny of the report of the 'Food Analyst'.
The FSS Act also empowers her, as the 'Designated Officer' to decide whether any violation is punishable with imprisonment or fine, her report said.
