NAFDAC Destroys Frozen Fish Worth N3.5m

A 20 foot container load of rotten frozen fish worth N3.5 million imported into the country from Norway by Bharat Ventures Ltd, Lagos, has been destroyed in Port Harcourt by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The deputy director in charge of Ports Inspection Directorate in Port Harcourt: Mrs. Oluremi Olarewaju said that the 1,260 cartons x 20kg container load of the frozen fish (Horse Mackereh) was inspected at Onne Port, Port Harcourt in February 2010 by NAFDAC officials but the fish was found to be unwholesome and was put on “Hold”.

Speaking to newsmen at the dump site along Eliosu Rumkpokwu Road, Port Harcourt where the product was crushed and buried, Mrs. Olarewaju said: “On physical examination, the fish was discovered to be blood stained, defrozen and badly deteriorated with bad odour”.

She said that the fish perished in the high sea before it arrived the country, attributing it to the malfunctioning of the cooling systems in the refrigerated container.

According to her, “out of the 15 containers of frozen fish imported by the company, a container load of the fish with 1,260 cartons x 20kg worth $22.680 (about N3.5 million) went bad due to improper storage caused in malfunctioned refrigerating system. 

She continued that the product was unfit for human consumption and, therefore, impounded by NAFDAC, while a consent for forfeiture certificate was signed by the importer leading to its eventual destruction.

Olarewaju advised frozen fish importers to always ensure that the refrigerating systems in their containers are in perfect working condition to avoid loosing their products.