RAWALPINDI, April 12: Another 500 tons of imported chillies have been released by the Customs authorities despite Crop Disease Research Institute’s (CDRI) confirmation that the consignment is infected with fungi.

The consignment had been withheld by the government after Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) indicated the contamination. Earlier, around 150 tons of infected chillies, imported from India, had been released.

According to the council, the percentage of various fungi in the consignment was: Aspergillus niger, 70 per cent; Aspergillus flavus, 25 per cent; Rhizopus sp, 90 per cent; and Mucor, 75 per cent.

The matter was referred to the CDRI for further analysis. The institute, in its report to the government, stated: “Samples of red chillies imported from India were processed at Karachi and Islamabad stations for presence of various fungi. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium semitectum, Alternaria longipes and Mucor sp.”

“Aspergillus species appeared with the highest frequency, followed by Fusarium and Alternaria. Aspergillus flavus is an afflatoxin (carcinogen compound) that produces fungus,” it further said.

However, the consignment was released even after the receipt of the CDRI report on the orders of influential quarters, Customs sources said.

The orders were issued on the basis of another PCSIR report on the consignment, prepared on parameters other than fungal contamination. The importers, in collusion with some government officials, had the withheld consignment released by getting it declared fit for consumption, despite the fact that the report had indicated presence of Afflatoxin (14 ppb), well-placed sources said.

They added that six importers were bringing more contaminated chillies from India, and LCs for another 900 tons had been opened.

It is worth mentioning here that such a huge quantity is being imported at a time when the supply of red chillies is satisfactory in the country — a fact also confirmed by the minor crops commissioner, food ministry. The new crop of chillies will also be ready by May and the import is likely to adversely affect indigenous growers.