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Indian rice labelled as local produce found while being packed
View(s):An attempt to sell imported rice as a locally produced brand was foiled by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Medical team this week. Acting on information received that a group was unloading and repacking rice in a private car park near Kotahena, a team led by CMC Medical Officer Sasanka Ranasinghe, conducted a raid last Friday and arrested those involved.
The 500 fifty-kilogram bags of rice imported from India, were being unloaded and packed for the retail market with local labels.
“We are not sure if the rice is fit for human consumption. They have violated laws pertaining to labeling of goods and food items. If they package under a certain label, they have to obtain the approval of the area PHI and have the label registered. This they have not done,” said Dr Ranasinghe.
The offenders were produced in court and granted bail. A sample of the rice has been sent to the CMC lab for testing, while court ordered the container not to be moved from its present location pending the test results.
However, on Saturday morning the container was missing from the car park. The owner of the vehicle, who claimed to have no knowledge of the court order, had moved the vehicle. But he later brought the vehicle to the same premises, only to be produced in court again.