Taking advantage of loopholes in the existing law, a section of traders is importing chemicals like paraformaldehyde that can be used as a substitute for formalin.
Though import of formalin, a highly toxic chemical solution, has dropped drastically in recent times, import of chemicals similar to formalin has spiked after restrictions were imposed on formalin import.
In March last year, the government amended the import policy 2012-15 and put restrictions on the import, use and storage of formalin to check its widespread use in food items.
But only formalin's name was mentioned in the amendment, leaving out the other harmful chemicals similar to it.
Cashing in on this, traders imported 10,397 tonnes of paraformaldehyde in fiscal 2012-13, according to the National Board of Revenue.
At least 7,833 tonnes of paraformaldehyde were imported in 2011-12 while the amount was 7,268 tonnes in 2010-11, as shown in NBR data.
“Paraformaldehyde is used as an industrial raw material. There is no legal obstacle to import of this. So, we release this material from the customs in line with the import policy,” said Mohammad Masud Sadik, commissioner of customs house in Chittagong by phone.
But a section of traders turn this paraformaldehyde into formalin, he said.
“Though we are well aware of the abuse of paraformaldehyde, we cannot bar its release from the customs, as the import policy does not say anything to that end,” he continued.
“We check a lot of documents regarding import of formalin as the government has imposed restrictions on import of this chemical in the amended import policy.”
