Formalin import fall fuels fear of rising smuggling.

Import of formaldehyde, usually known as 'formalin' has drastically fallen in the recent years by over 65 per cent though its usage has increased significantly leaving the experts to worry over smuggling.

Some seventeen enlisted importers of the country altogether have imported 200 tonnes of 'formalin' in the last financial year (FY2011-12) which was 263 tonnes in FY-2010-11 and 532 tonnes in FY-2009-10, NBR data showed.

The formalin is imported mainly from India, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Iran and the USA. Importers have to pay 65 per cent government duties and other charges for importing the toxic item through formal ways.

The 'formalin' is officially used for preserving human bodies in hospitals and pathological labs but some unscrupulous people have long been using it in preserving fish, fruits and other food stuffs creating seriousl threat to human health.

Formalin laced foods are harmful for public health, using them for a long time might cause respiratory and neurological problems, cancer, liver cirrhosis, allergy, asthma and other health hazards experts say.

"High doses of it may lead one to death," they noted.

Chairman of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) Prof AI Mustafa said, "The sudden fall in import of formalin is suspicious and the government must investigate into the matter," he suggested.

In reply to a query, he said, "It is not impossible to import formalin through illegal ways or producing it locally. Formalin is still being used in various food stuffs in increasing volume."

"We become thundered seeing that such a sensitive toxic item has long been sold openly in different markets of the country but the government has no control over it," Mir Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, chairman of the Department of Pharmacology of Banga Bandhu Seikh Mujib Medical University told the FE.

"I wonder how the import of formalin could decline sharply from 532 tones to 200 tones only in two years. Formalin is certainly entering the country by any means," Ahmed asserted.

Experts have also recommended for imposing restrictions on import, sales and use of formalin and formation of strict laws in this regard along with assurance of its execution.

Mominul Bari, a chemical trader of Mitford areas, claimed the sale of formalin has not declined. The demand and supply of formalin is good.

According to different shops of Mitford, per liter of formalin is being sold around Tk170.

He however could not tell the exact quantity of demand of formalin in the country.

A frustrated shopper of the city's Kawran bazar area said, "It's a double edged problem for the consumers. While you're taking fish, you're actually taking poison because, it is dipped in formalin. And when you're leaving it out of your menu, you're actually depriving yourselves from necessary protein."

"Time has come for us to introduce tough law against food adulteration so that no dishonest trader can get away after mixing poisonous substances with food stuff", he added.

Prof Dr Khondakar Md Shafyetallah, director general of the health directorate under the ministry of health and family welfare said that the item could not be banned in the country because of its use in the pathological labs and mortuaries.

He however also said that the government is thinking to introduce ceiling on import and sales of the item.

"The government is trying to overcome the drawbacks of existing laws on it and will formulate a new act in this regard if necessary," he observed.

Source : thefinancialexpress-bd.com