Shillong, July 19:  Food safety officials in the state have started the spot testing for formalin in imported fish in markets in the state capital here on Thursday.

“We have conducted spot testing for formalin in 20 types of imported fish and all were found to be negative,” Food Safety assistant commissioner DBS Mukhim said.

Asked, she said that the fishes are those imported from states like Andra Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam and the test was conducted soon after they were unloaded from the trucks at the go-downs of the wholesellers at Iewduh market.

According to officials, similar spot test will also be carried out in other districts of the state from tomorrow.

This was following the direction given by the state government on the need to carry out spot testing on imported fish sold in all the districts of the state.

Around 12 Formalydehyde detection kit for fresh fish was also availed from the Central Institute of Fish, Kochin.

Meanwhile, the state government is yet to consider banning the import of fish from other states after test reports stated that there was no formalin traces found in fishes sold in the state.

Health Minister AL Hek had informed that 13 out of 26 samples of fish collected that was sent for testing in the State Public Health Laboratory, Assam, Guwahati, were found to be negative.

“Therefore, for the time being we are not going to ban the import and sale of fish from other states. We will be waiting for the reports of the other 13 samples, which we expect to receive within two weeks time,” he had said.

Many states including Assam, Manipur, Goa have recently banned imports of fish from other states after traces of formalin, which is a dangerous and anti-decomposition agent, was found in the fishes.

Asked, the health minister however assured, “If the fish are tested positive in the reports that are being awaited, the government will definitely ban the import of fish for the safety of the citizens in the state.”

It may be mentioned here that over 21,000 metric tons of fish is being imported from other states like Andra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, and Assam to the state annually.