Panaji: The Goa government on Saturday announced a ban on getting fish from other states for six months.

The move comes against the backdrop of a scare in the coastal state that formalin, a potential cancer-causing chemical, was being used to preserved fish.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced the ban on Saturday and added that its duration could be extended by another six months, if needed, till measures to check the quality of fish are in place in the state.

"Till such measures are in place (to test fish), purchase of fish from other states is banned for six months with immediate effect," Rane told reporters.

The state government is banning purchas eof fish from other states for the second time this year. The earlier ban was for for fifteen days, having been announced by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in July.

The ban at the time was lifted after the government introduced border checks for trucks bringing fish into Goa.

Rane told reporters that the state government would set up testing laboratories with Central agencies like Quality Council of India, Export Inspection Council and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

He accused fish traders of failing to comply with guidelines laid down by Goa Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).