USED GLOVES, REJECTED CONDOMS FROM MALAYSIA IMPOUNDED IN TUTICORIN

By P. Vijian

CHENNAI, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian container with hazardous wastes
comprising used surgical gloves and rejected condoms was impounded when it
arrived at the Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu last month.

Officers from the Tuticorin Customs intelligence unit seized the container,
together with two other consignments which also contained toxic wastes, from
Saudi Arabia and Spain, at the port located about 540km from here.

"Based on a tip-off, we checked the containers and one was from Malaysia. It
contained used latex stock, they were used gloves and rejected condoms.

"There was bad odour from the container...we can't allow used wastes into
the
country. It may cause communicable diseases. We will send the container back to
Malaysia," Chennai Customs Commissioner (Seaport) C. Rajan told Bernama Tuesday.

Indian authorities are in the midst of tracing the culprits involved in
importing the toxic waste materials, which contravenes the Hazardous Waste
Management Act 1986.

Companies based in Tamil Nadu are suspected to be involved in the importing
business, mainly to recycle them in India.

Authorities have seized nine containers carrying 195 tonnes of the waste
materials from the three countries.

The four containers from Spain and another four from Saudi Arabia contained
mostly metal scraps and plastic wastes.

All the waste products would be returned to the source country and a penalty
would be imposed on importers as per the Customs Act, said Rajan.

-- BERNAMA