Centre to curb illegal food products marketing in Northeast

Aizawl, Sep 4 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has said that his ministry was aware about illegal marketing of food items especially soft drinks and fruit juices manufactured in neighibouring countries.

Replying to a query during his visit here yesterday, he acknowledged reports of Bangladeshi and Burmese food products flooding in Northeast and West Bengal and added the ministry has requested the states not to allow marketing of imported food items including edible oils, mineral water and soft drinks without proper test.

''Since most of the states do not have well-equipped food testing laboratory, we have put some non-tariff barriers and the law enforcing agencies have been alerted. But considering the demand, we have set up quality testing stations for Hilsha fish and Jamdhani saree at Petrapol and Kolkata,'' he added.

He, however, indicated that India will not go for withdrawl of existing non-tariff barriers with neighbouring countries for curbing illegal trade. While Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur are flooded with Burmese food products; Bangladeshi agro and horti products soft drinks, snacks, mineral water and other edible items have been flooding Tripura, Asom and West Bengal.

Apart from Brazil and Singapore, Bangladesh is procuring jackfruit, oranges, litchi and lemon from northeastern states and the finished products are being sold only in Indian markets.

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