36,000 tonne Australian wheat awaits clearance at Kochi

Kochi, Aug 25 (UNI) A 36,100 tonne consignment of Australian wheat, imported by the Food Corporation of India, is awaiting clearance by the authorities, which have taken samples for plant quarantine test and grain quality test.

Official sources here said the consignment arrived at the Cochin Port yesterday aboard the cargo ship MV Turicum and samples were taken by the Port Health Officer and the Plant Quarantine Department.

The samples taken by the Port Health Officer were sent to the Central Food Technology Research Institute (CFTRI) at Mysore yesterday itself and the report was expected within two days.

The grains would be allowed to unload only if the test reports were alright, the officials said.

Meanwhile, sources at the Cochin Port Trust said the ship was waiting outside the harbour and would be allowed to berth only after the authorities cleared the consignment.

According to reports, a consignment of Australian wheat imported at Chennai last month had been allegedly found unfit for consumption due to high pesticide residue.

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