Contradictory results prevents release of canned fish containers

Sri Lanka Customs has refused to release some 90 containers of imported canned fish due to contradictory reports issued by the Food Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Health Ministry and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) regarding their suitability for consumption. 

Customs Media Spokesman Sunil Jayarathna told Times Online that importers had made a fresh attempt to get the containers, which have been impounded by Customs for over a year, released. While some containers have been re-exported while most others continue to remain at the Colombo Harbour. 

The issue, according to Mr Jayarathna, is that while the SLSI has ruled that some of the stocks of canned fish are suitable for consumption, the FAC has ruled otherwise. In some cases, stocks which the FAC have ruled to be fit for human consumption have been ruled as unfit by the SLSI. 

He said the only way Customs can release the containers is if the two agencies can come to an agreement on their suitability for human consumption.