PANAJI: Medical stores across the state are yet to receive formalin detection kits to help consumers ascertain the quality of seafood they purchase. Presently being used at Goa’s borders to monitor fish supply from neighbouring states, the kits were expected to be available to citizens from August 20.TOI had reported on August 2 that the Kerala-based ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), the developer of the kit, had licensed a Mumbai-based firm to manufacture it on a commercial basis“We were informed that we would get the kits by August 20, but so far none has been received at any retail medical stores,” secretary of the Indian pharma association, Goa, Prasad Tamba, said.The technology of ICAR-CIFT’s formalin detection kit was licensed to HiMedia Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, on July 4, following which commercial production commenced. The company began supplying the kits to the Goa food and drugs administration (FDA) on priority since the start of August.“The FDA was our priority because we were getting calls directly from it for supply of the kits. Now, production is full-fledged and we can receive bulk orders. We are working on reaching out to medical stores in Goa for the commercial supply,” senior business development manager at HiMedia, Shashikant Avhad, said.Ponda-based Jayant Barve, who is the proprietor of distribution unit Yogeshwari Pharmaceuticals, said 500 kits have been dispatched to Goa over the past 15 days. He has supplied these to food packaging units, trawler owners and select superstores, in addition to the FDA, he said. Medical stores, however, are yet to receive stocks.“Pharmacies have not yet approached us for supply of formalin detection kits. When there is a demand from them, we will place an order and do the needful,” he said.

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