Soon, file online complaints about spoilt food: Suresh Prabhu

PANAJI: Union minister of commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday said the public in Goa will be able to file online complaints about food adulteration in the state soon.
He said a world class laboratory for checking fish adulteration will be set up in the state by Quality Council of India (QCI) and Export Inspection Agency (EIA).

The Union minister said the government will have a mobile laboratory to address specific complaints.

The laboratory is likely to be set up at the old Asilo hospital building, in Mapusa, and all food items would be tested.

Prabhu held a meeting with town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai, dood and drugs administration director, chief secretary and police officials to discuss on how to go ahead with testing fish for formalin.

Since there is an apprehension among the people regarding the quality of fish and the government is committed to providing quality fish, fruits and vegetables to the people, the decition to set up the lab was taken, the minister told reporters.

"We have decided to put a world class laboratory. Food certified by QCI and EIA is accepted globally including Europe, Japan, Korea and US," Prabhu said Goans are eating everything at par or better than what the rest of the world eats in most developed countries.

He said QCI and EIA officials have already visited the state and held meetings with Goa government officials to set up the laboratory in the state.

The Union commerce minister said the central and state government are working closely to ensure that all apprehensions are completely dispelled.

"If people have complaints they can file online complaints," Prabhu said

Sardesai said Goa should have the highest standards of food checks. He said the last resort is ban and till date we did not understand whether ban on any food items gives us the solution.