Leaves
contracts worth crores of rupees in jeopardy
The National Commodity and
Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) is facing the heat as the Kerala Food Safety
Commissioner has ordered it to destroy 900 tonnes of adulterated black pepper,
leaving the contract worth crores of rupees in jeopardy.
In December last , six warehouses
accredited by NCDEX in Ernakulam and Alappuzha district in Kerala were sealed
over complaint of adulteration of pepper stock. “We have ordered that black
pepper found to be adulterated with mineral oil be destroyed immediately in
concurrence with the Spice Board of India,” Commissioner, Food Safety (Kerala),
Biju Prabhakar said in its order.
As per the order, about 6,000 tonnes
of black pepper has been sealed after found to be adulterated with mineral oil.
Mineral oil used in adulterated
black pepper is made of burnt diesel, paraffin oil, white petroleum and other
un-digestible and insoluble petroleum products. Black pepper coated with
mineral oil is considered carcinogenic, and even otherwise harmful for human
consumption.
NCDEX officials said they could not
comment unless the exchange received a copy of the order.
The Food Safety Commissioner sealed
six warehouses and issued notice to NCDEX to ensure that commodity did not
enter the market. The Spices Board of India was asked to examine the samples of
the black pepper.
On suspicion, the Commissioner had
collected samples of the black pepper from NCDEX-accredited warehouses in
October, 2012.
Meanwhile, the writ petition filed
in the Indore High Court by the Kalimirch Vyapari Association will be heard on
September 17. The association represents traders suffering due to non-delivery
of black pepper by NCDEX.
The KVA members have reportedly
bought black pepper on NCDEX by paying about Rs.350 crore.
With seizure of six warehouses in
Kerala, black pepper traders of NCDEX have also made representation to the FMC
and also to the exchange demanding delivery of valid goods or refund of the
value of the pepper.
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