Chennai: The withholding of 47,000 tonnes of inferior quality fertilisers exported from China has once again brought to spotlight the quality of products imported from the neighbouring country.
While the general perception among public is that Chinese products are inferior to their Indian versions, industry experts point out that not all Chinese products are sub-standard. China is a major sourcing hub for all major manufacturing companies who are engaged in contract manufacturing deals with them.
All these are high quality products whose standards are well-maintained and stringent norms are adhered to in their manufacturing processes.
However, the biggest issue is only with sub-standard toys and other goods that are being made for third-world countries. Most of these products find their way into India when small-time retailers procure goods they want from South China in one or two cartons.
So, when the consignment is shipped out, they are usually a medley of toys from over 40 different makers which are sent in one container. So, ideally a single standard certification that is not authentic is produced by the retailer to ensure their transport.
“These are severely under-invoiced items and hence duty payments are lower and hence the total landing cost is also quite cheap. Since all these products have no MRP listed on them, they are sold at a varying price that suits retailers,” said Dr Shyam Makhija, business head of Pegasus ToyKraft Pvt. Ltd, makers of Toykraft brand of toys.
Though we have safety norms for toys in the form of standards formulated by Bureau of Indian Standards, these are hardly implemented and enforced. “We need a complete revision of these norms matching the standards of Europe and American ones with strict enforcement in place to save the industry,” he added.
Toxicologists in the city point out that tests should be done for lead in toys.
“Lead may be found in the paint on toys. First, we need to find out the level of lead, whether it’s high or low. Generally, children are exposed to it due to hand-to-mouth activity and if intoxicated, it can cause nervous problem, hypertension, chronic kidney diseases among others,” says Dr S. Raghunanthanan, professor of medicine, in charge of toxicology ward, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
Doctors claim that even in electronic goods one can be exposed to mercury. “If power-saving lamps break, then mercury content will be released and it’s a cause for concern,” said Dr Raghunanthanan. Health experts warn that problems including dizziness are possible because of toxic mercury inside the bulbs.
Next: Importer to be prosecuted
Importer to be prosecuted
S. Prasad | DC
Puducherry: Three days after 37,000 tonnes of fertilisers including Urea and DAP imported by Zuari Agro Chemicals were withheld at the MARG Karaikal port for being deficient in quality standards, the Puducherry Government has initiated steps to prosecute the Goa based private dealer for allegedly importing sub-standard fertilisers from China.
It may be recalled that as much as 47,000 tonnes of sub-standard fertilisers were imported by the dealer from China.
Following an advisory from the Quality Control Department action was taken to prevent the release of the consignment from the Karaikal port.
It was meant to be disposed to the farmers across the Southern States but the intervention of the Department of Agriculture had frozen any further distribution already although around 10,000 tonnes of the fertiliser had been disposed to farmers in Karnataka and in Tamil Nadu.
A. Ramamurthy, Director, Department of Agriculture told Deccan Chronicle that about 10,000 tonnes of the sub-standard fertilisers had been released to around eight places in Karnataka and Erode in Tamil Nadu.
He said that there is a standing order (Fertiliser Control Order, 1985) from the Department of Fertilisers giving clear guidelines on how such a situation should be handled. He said that the dealer would be prosecuted for procuring sub-standard fertilisers and disposing them to farmers.
Asked how the 10,000 tonnes of the shipment could be cleared from the port he said that the test report from the laboratory would take time.
Pending the availability of the report the dealer had sold away 10,000 tonnes to farmers in eight places in Karnataka and Erode in Tamil Nadu. However, the department has alerted the officials in the other two states to keep a vigil on the movement of such sub-standard fertilisers in the larger interest of the farmers and the crops.
He also pointed out that a detailed probe has been ordered into the incident although the dealer could dispose of the fertilisers to any research station or other organisations without covering the farmers. He further added that even if they are fit to be disposed the price has to be fixed again in view of the poor quality of nutrients including Nitrogen and Potash.
The department would conduct periodical checks and put in place a stringent monitoring system to prevent distribution of sub-standard fertilisers finding their way into the country, he added.
Next: Poor farmers end up paying price of shoddy inputs
Poor farmers end up paying price of shoddy inputs
H. Zakeer Hussain | DC
Salem: Reacting to the inflow of a large quantity of substandard fertilisers from China, farmers in the Cauvery delta region pointed out that the farming community is usually ignorant of the quality of fertilisers and do not distinguish between Indian and foreign brands.
District secretary of the Cauvery Farmers Protection Association Swamimalai Sundara Vimalnathan said that farmers do not have any facility to check if the fertiliser they purchase is of an inferior quality. “If the crop does not yield, farmers do not check quality of fertilisers. Insteady, they would just add more of the fertiliser and wait for the crop production to pick up,” he said.
Members of the association pointed out that the agricultural department should check the quality of the fertiliser before it enters the market. “The government has laid down clear guidelines for importing fertilisers into the country.
While the farmer may be unaware of the rules, the concerned authorities should ensure that all norms are followed and that dubious products do not reach the farmers,” Vimalnathan said.
