The war on formalin use in foodstuffs

It is really a matter of grave concern that the rampant use of formalin in foodstuffs poses a serious threat to public health. The ongoing campaign to make the kitchen markets formalin-free is yet to bring optimum results as unscrupulous traders are still selling formalin-tainted foodstuff mainly due to poor monitoring.
Members of the civil society, media and consumer groups have long been expressing concern about the use of formalin. Concerted efforts are needed to make sure the kitchen markets are free from selling formalin mixed fishes, vegetables and fruits.
However, it is indeed a good initiative taken by the government and the private sector to ensure consumers are taking foodstuff without formalin.
And against this backdrop, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in cooperation with some private commercial banks (PCBs) with support from the ministry of commerce (MoC) has started donating formalin dehydrate machines to the kitchen markets.
They (FBCCI and PCBs) first handed over the formalin dehydrate machines at the Malibagh kitchen market on September 19, 2012.  Later they handed over formalin dehydrate machines at the kitchen  markets at Santinagar, Banani, Mohakhali, Gulshan-2, Mohammadpur, Uttara Samobay Bazar, Badamtali Fruits Market, Mirpur Shah Ali Bazar and Kaptan Bazar.
Besides, main kitchen markets in Mymensingh, Manikganj, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Faridpur and Nilphamari have also introduced formalin dehydrate machines.
However, even after introduction of formalin dehydrate machines, a section of profit-monger traders were allegedly found selling formalin-mixed vegetables, fruits, fishes, pea and pepper (big-sized Chinese variety mainly used at restaurants) which have the presence of formalin beyond the tolerable level of parts per million (PPM).
But most of the kitchen markets in the capital and other districts are yet to introduce formalin dehydrate machines, depriving the consumers of formalin-free essential commodities.
During visits to Shantinagar, Malibagh, Mohakhali and Gulshan-2 kitchen markets it has been found that customers have expressed satisfaction over the campaign against formalin.
They said that they could purchase formalin-free fishes and vegetables from the markets but the prices of those commodities were comparatively high.
But a number of customers also said that the prices of some varieties of fishes were high compared with those of other kitchen markets that were yet to introduce formalin dehydrate machines.
They also urged the authorities concerned to take effective steps to stop sale of formalin in the open market and monitor its misuse across the country.
An influential leader of FBCCI said all the mentioned kitchen markets engaged trained persons to detect formalin-mixed foodstuff.
He said the market authorities were committed to make the kitchen markets formalin-free. They said that they had taken moves to make traders and customers conscious about the harmful effect of formalin on human health.
To check indiscriminate use of formalin, the cabinet on November 4, 2013 approved in principle the draft Formalin Control Act, 2013 with a provision for maximum 10 years of jail in addition to the fine of Tk 0.5 million for unauthorised possession, use, production and import of formalin and its trade.
If the draft Act is passed in the parliament, then it will allow the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to solely import formalin, not any individual or private organisation.
The government has recently imposed a restriction on wholesale import of formalin to prevent misuse of toxic chemicals in foodstuff and fishes.
The amount of formalin import, sale and purpose must be described in the register. The ministry of commerce (MoC) and other government agencies will examine the register regularly.  
The importers must take permission from the MoC with specific recommendations from concerned ministry or department prior to importing formalin.
The import of formalin will be permitted only for meeting the industrial, medical and laboratory purposes. Necessary permission will be given in favour of eligible persons or organisations to import, transport, produce and trade in formalin for use in such specific areas.
The government in recent years operated mobile courts, fined and jailed some people to prevent or stop the use of formalin in food items. But that did not lead to much of any success in controlling the use of this dreaded and harmful substance.
A chemist at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) said the formalin was generally used in making boards and plywood, industrial fungicides, germicides, disinfectants and in mortuaries. It is also used at medical laboratories.
FBCCI Vice President Md Helal Uddin who is playing a key role in the anti-formalin campaign said the shop owners of the kitchen markets had been maintaining strict monitoring so that none could sell formalin-tainted foodstuffs.  
Claiming success of their ongoing formalin-free campaign, he said that 800- 850 tonnes of formalin were imported during the fiscal year (FY) 2011-12 mainly in the absence of restriction.
But during the FY 2012-13 only 40 tonnes of formalin were imported due mainly to the restriction imposed by the MoC, reflecting a positive sign of public awareness against the adverse impact of formalin-mixed foodstuff  on health.
The kitchen markets have their own trained persons who stand at the entrance of the markets early in the morning to allow traders intending to sell fishes and vegetables the markets after checking their commodities by formalin detector machine very carefully. Fishes and vegetables first get checked early in the morning and another check is done during the noon.   
Kitchen markets leaders said if any customers wanted to confirm his/ her purchased commodity (fish and vegetables) was free from formalin further, then they could have that opportunity from the designated persons responsible for checking it.
Anti-formalin campaigners said the people of the country were becoming conscious about the deadly impact of formalin. There are around 30 big kitchen markets in the city. And similar machines need to be supplied gradually to those markets with the help of FBCCI and the PCBs.
The consumers believe that only strict market monitoring by the department concerned could check indiscriminate uses of formalin.  
Health service providers, civil society organisations and the people at large have been demanding strict control on, and effective enforcement of tough measures against, the use of formalin.
They called upon the government, FBCCI and the kitchen market committee leaders to maintain strong monitoring so that there was no laxity in esting fishes and vegetables by formalin dehydrate machines by concerned persons.       
The Directorate of the National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has been conducting regular drives against traders selling formalin-mixed foodstuffs in the kitchen markets.
 "We are conducting regular drive against the traders who sell formalin-mixed foodstuffs," a concerned official of DNCRP said.
The writer is Staff Reporter of the FE