Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Aug 30: Hours after Aam Admi Party claimed that the fish that was imported in Goa was laced with formalin, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane that none of the sample tested at the state border has tested positive.

In a statement issued late evening on Thursday, Rane said that Quality Council of India (QCI) has started testing fish at the two border points since June 15, this year and till date, 1800 samples have been tested and none have shown the presence of added formalin in them.

AAP in a press conference held on Thursday had claimed that the fish that was imported in the state was laced with formalin.

Rane said that besides QCI, Goa Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officers have tested more than 6,000 samples of fish from border points, wholesale markets as well as retail fish markets in Goa and none of the samples showed added formalin.

“More than 100 samples have also been subjected to laboratory testing using sophisticated instruments and absence of formalin has been established in all the samples,” the minister said.

Rane said that government would like to assure the people of Goa that the fish sold in the state is safe and free of formalin. “There is absolutely no need to panic or to pay heed to any rumours,” he said.