Govt to curb illegal food marketing in Northeast

Aizawl, Sept 4: 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 neighbouring countries.

Replying to a query during his visit here yesterday, he said that with the reports of Bangladeshi and Burmese food products have flooded in Northeast and West Bengal, 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 states do not have well-equipped food testing laboratory, we put some non-tariff barriers and the law enforcing agencies have been alerted. But considering the demand, we set up quality testing stations for Hilsha fish and Jamdhani saree at Petrapol and Kolkata," he added.

He, however, indicated that India would not go for withdrawl of existing non-tariff barriers with neghibouring countries for checking up the 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 finish products are being sold only in Indian markets.

UNI