A consignment of canned fish, containing the toxic heavy metal ‘Arsenic’, has been found from the Customs storage complex in Orugodawatte.
The Department of Government Information said in a statement that the consignment of five containers is valued at USD 215,000.
The toxic canned fish was inspected by the Secretary to the Ministries of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, and Irrigation Prabath Chandrakeerthi today.
Stating that the stock of canned fish will not be destroyed in Sri Lanka, Prabath Chandrakeerthi said measures are to be taken to re-export the said five containers consisting of the toxic canned fish.
“These canned fish were imported in May 2022. This contains toxic heavy metal ‘Arsenic’ beyond the stipulated weight level. Therefore, it is unfit for human consumption. It has been notified as usable as animal feed. As it is unfit for human consumption it clearly cannot be used as animal feed as well,” he said.
Sri Lanka Customs is conducting further investigations and inspections in this regard. (Newswire)