the goan I network
MARGAO
Wholesale fish traders are anxiously looking forward at the outcome of the high-level meeting convened by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday which is likely to address the entire gamut of issues affecting the inter-state fish trade.
The Wholesale Fish Market Association had a meeting of its members on Sunday evening to take stock of the situation arising out of the FDA’s decision to tighten screws on vehicles importing fish into the wholesale fish market from across the borders.
While some members expressed their unhappiness over FDA’s decision to stop the vehicles importing fish in the market, even though the vehicles comply to the FDA and FSSAI guidelines, the Association is believed to have decided to wait and watch the outcome of Monday’s high-level committee meeting.
Some members, sources said, were also sore over the delay the Margao Municipality to dispose their applications for the trade license in order to conduct trade in the wholesale fish market. Members felt that either the Margao Municipal Council grant them trade license or give them in writing why it cannot do so.
The issue of the trade license figured prominently at the Association meeting since the traders had complied to the FDA guideline of transporting the fish in insulated vehicles and had received the permission from the SGPDA to assemble and conduct business at the wholesale fish market.
The traders feel that FDA has not granted them the permission to start full-fledged operations on the plea that the Margao Municipality has not issued the trade license. “We have made it clear from day one that the traders are ready to comply with all the guidelines. But, we are helpless with the MMC not disposing our applications for the trade license”, informed Association president M Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, sources informed that a couple of insulated trucks made their presence felt in the wholesale fish market, bringing variety of fish such as kingfish, bat (dorado), mackerels etc on Sunday.
