the goan I network
PANAJI
The public health department of the government of Goa on Friday issued a circular stating that the contents of the circular issued by the Department on August 2, 2018 will be followed strictly with immediate effect.
The circular of August 2 specifically states that fish traders need to have mandatory registration/valid licenses either from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of the states from which they hail, or the Goa FDA. It also states that fish is to be transported in insulated vehicles. The circular issued on October 26 reiterates these points.
In addition, the circular also states, “Goa Police and Transport Department officials shall ensure that the vehicles transporting fish entering the state for domestic market shall be carrying a transporter’s license for the vehicle in which the fish is transported, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations for transporting of fish, issued either by the authority of the concerned state or by the FDA Goa.”
Copies of the circular have been sent to the North and South Goa Collectors, Director of the FDA, SP Police North and South Goa, Directors of the Directorates of Fisheries and Transport.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed on Friday that the circular will be followed with immediate effect, ie from the night of October 26.
The FDA on Tuesday had issued an order revoking registration certificates of 33 Food Business Operators (FBOs), all local Goan fish traders, as they failed to submit their municipality trade licenses within the October 17 deadline set by the Authority in the backdrop of the formalin-on-fish imbroglio.
Health Minister Rane had said on Thursday that no further excuses from traders would be tolerated and that once a meeting with the Health Secretary was held, a final circular would be issued. The Health Minister had also stated that no fish trader had registered with the FDA as on October 25 morning.
