Ban on MDH, Everest masala: India seeks details from food regulators of Singapore, Hong Kong
New Delhi (PTI): India, the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, has sought details from food safety regulators of Singapore and Hong Kong, which has banned certain spices of Indian brands MDH and Everest due to quality concerns.
The commerce ministry has also directed Indian embassies in both Singapore and Hong Kong to send a detailed report on the matter.
The ministry has also sought details from the Indian firms -- MDH and Everest, whose products have been banned for allegedly containing pesticide 'ethylene oxide' beyond permissible limits.
"Details have been sought from the companies. Root cause of the rejection and corrective actions will be determined along with the exporters concerned," a commerce ministry official said.
Technical details, analytical reports and the details of the exporters whose consignments have been rejected have been sought from Embassies at Singapore and Hong Kong, the official said.
Details have also been sought from Singapore Food Agency and Centre for Food Safety, and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong, the official added.
The ministry official mentioned that an industry consultation is also scheduled to discuss the issue of mandatory testing of ethylene oxide in spice shipments to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Spices Board of India is looking into the ban imposed by Hong Kong and Singapore on the sale of four spice-mix products of Indian brands MDH and Everest.
The Food safety regulator of Hong Kong has asked consumers not to buy these products and traders not to sell, the Singapore Food Agency has directed a recall of the products.
In 2022-23 fiscal, the country exported spices worth nearly Rs 32,000 crore. Chilli, cumin, spice oil and oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder and cardamom are major spices exported.
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21 cops injured in violence during demolition drive at Nashik dargah; 15 persons held
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Nashik (PTI): Twenty one police personnel were injured and three police vehicles damaged when a mob attacked them while opposing the demolition of an unauthorised dargah in Maharashtra's Nashik city, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident took place late Tuesday night and police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob and brought the situation under control, they said, adding 15 persons have been detained in connection with the violence.
The injured police personnel were on security duty during the anti-encroachment drive at the spot when the incident occurred.
The situation is currently peaceful, a senior police official said.
At around 6 am on Wednesday, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) personnel removed the unauthorised Satpeer Baba Dargah located in Kathe Galli area of the city, following an order of the Bombay High Court, the police said.
"As per the HC order, the Satpeer Dargah trustees started the process of removing the structure on Tuesday night. A violent mob gathered to oppose the removal and pelted stones at police and Muslim leaders who went to pacify the protesters," Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik said.
"Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob and brought the situation under control. Three police vehicles were damaged and 21 police personnel injured in the attack. The dargah was demolished in the morning and the process to file an FIR and arrest (those involved in the violence) is on," he said.
At around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, the trustees had reached the spot to remove the encroachment and started the work.
At that time, a mob of miscreants gathered at Usmania Chowk near the structure. They did not listen to the dargah trustees and other people who went to pacify them, DCP Kirankumar Chavan said.
"Police officials present at the place also tried to pacify them, but they did not listen to them. The miscreants pelted stones and damaged some vehicles. Mild force was used to control them," he said.
"As many as 15 persons have been detained and 57 motorcycles belonging to suspects have been seized. The situation is peaceful and under control at present," Chavan said.
Nearly 50 NMC personnel were engaged in the anti-encroachment drive at the dargah on Wednesday morning, which was carried out using four earth-excavators, six trucks and two dumpers, as per civic officials.
Notably, several unauthorised structures near the dargah were removed by the civic body’s anti-encroachment team in February this year.
However, a section of local residents and members of Hindu outfits who then gathered at the site said the dargah itself was unauthorised and must be removed.
Nashik Central MLA Devyani Pharande had also said the NMC’s anti-encroachment drive in February was not complete and the entire site should be cleared.
