Shahidul Islam Shahid :
The government has decided to update the laws to stop use of toxic substances in foodstuff and continue the ongoing ‘anti-formalin drive’ in the capital and other metropolitan cities in the country, while fruit-importers and traders have
threatened to enforce strike today and tomorrow, apparently to thwart the official action, for what they termed a ‘conspiracy to end fruit-business and deprive the people of nutrition.’
The action programme includes a half-day ‘abstention from fruit selling’ and formation of a human chain in front of the National Press Club this morning and a day-long strike in the capital tomorrow (Sunday).
Kawran Bazar Fruit Traders Association instead of supporting the strike programme has hailed the drive against formalin.
The action program was announced Friday at a press conference under the banner of ‘Fruit importers and wholesalers multi-purpose cooperative society limited’ at its Badamtali Market in the city.
Addressing journalists, general secretary of the trade body Sirajul Islam claimed, “The fruit sellers do not use formalin but some ‘unscrupulous’ traders use Carbide as preservative.” He also said that the consumption of Carbide is dangerous for human health.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has already directed officials concerned in his Ministry to draft suggestions for improvement of the Formalin Control Bill-2013, which is pending scrutiny at the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry, through inclusion of generic names of formalin, sources close to the Minister told The New Nation.
“Tofail Ahmed has also advised Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam to update the Safe Food Act-2013 so that use of toxic substances in foodstuff could be checked,” the source added. A Director of the NBR in a formal letter recently appraised the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs about the importers’ tricks and legal loopholes. He also requested the ministries to update the laws through inclusion of generic names of formalin in the list of prohibited items, so that the toxic substance could be destroyed at the source, a senior official of the Commerce Ministry said yesterday.
“Explaining the reason of import of the toxic chemical in massive quantity, the Director said that substance named formalin import is restricted but harmful chemicals found way into the country as those were imported in different generic names to hoodwink the customs department,” he said. Earlier, the Customs department has informed the government that 17,000 tones of formalin was imported in the country during the last one year and half against the actual demand of 150 tonnes, a senior official told The New Nation.
“Of the 17,000 tonnes of formalin, 11, 500 tonnes was imported last year and 5,500 tonnes this year, indicating that the massive amount of formalin is being used in foodstuff as preservative and consumed by the people, including children,” the official said, adding that experts have advised the government to destroy formalin at the entry point-at ports during import.
When asked, he said, formalin is imported in eight different generic names, including Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Para formaldehyde, Polyoxymethalene, Paraform, Formagene and Morbicide. “The import of such huge quantity of formalin could not be checked legally at the Chittagong Port or any land ports because the law concerned do not mention about the generic names,” he added.
Leading Pharmacist, Prof ABM Farooq of Dhaka University said, “The country has demand of 100 tonnes formalin per year for industrial, medical and scientific use but over 10,000 tonnes of the toxic chemical is being imported every year by unscrupulous importers and sold and used by unscrupulous traders.”
Expressing grave concern over massive increase in the import volume formalin, he said, “1,079 tonnes of formalin was imported in 2012 while, it rose to 11,500 tonnes last year (2013).” Backing the ongoing police and judicial drive against formalin, Prof Farooq suggested that a nationwide campaign should be launched against use of toxic substances in foodstuff, including fruits and vegetables, involving the people. Referring to a recent study on the state of fruits and vegetables in city markets, he said, “100 per cent of blackberry, 95 per cent of litchi, 60 per cent mangoes and 40 per cent of vegetables were tainted with toxic substances including formalin and pesticides.” A senior official of the Home Ministry said the government would import advanced scientific kits to trace toxic substances in foodstuffs on an emergency basis so that the law enforcers are armed with modern tools during the drive against formalin and other harmful chemicals.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Kawran Bazar Fruit Traders Association yesterday at a view exchange meeting with senior DMP officials extended their support to the ongoing police drive against formalin.
Held at the DMP headquarters the meeting was attended by Additional DMP Commissioner Mohammad Ibrahim Fatemi, Joint Commissioner Mir Rezaul Alam and Association President Mahbubul Alam Bablu, National award winner farmer Siddiqur Rahman Moyez and fruit trader of Chapai Nawabgonj Abul Kalam Azad, among others.
