NPQS to probe imported Beetroot in local market

COLOMBO (News 1st): The National Plant Quarantine Service has launched an investigation with regard to a stock of imported Beetroot allegedly being released to the local market. The investigation will be carried out on the instructions of the Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. Ajantha De Silva. The approval of the National Plant Quarantine Service is compulsory for the importation of vegetables into the country, a senior official of the National Plant Quarantine Service told News 1st on Wednesday (Jan. 19). However, no such approval has been granted, he noted. Accordingly, the National Plant Quarantine Service emphasized that if the relevant stock of Beetroot has been imported into the country, that is an illegal act. A report will be obtained from the officer attached to the National Plant Quarantine Service assigned for duties at the Customs Clearance Unit of the Colombo Port and further investigations will be carried out based on that report, the senior official at the National Plant Quarantine Service further noted. The reports regarding this stock of imported Beetroot first emerged from the Dambulla Economic Center. It is suspected that this stock of Beetroot was hidden among Potatoes.