UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI), the country’s only National Standards body, is not playing its due role in curbing the adulteration of foodstuffs, including the use of toxic chemicals, alleges the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
CAB general secretary Humayun Kabir told UNB that all the regulatory bodies of the government, including the BSTI, must play an effective role in ensuring safe foods alongside strengthening the monitoring system and mobile court drives against dishonest traders who use toxic chemicals in foodstuffs.
Asked whether the regulatory bodies are playing their due roles in checking rampant food adulteration, he answered in the negative, but said that ensuring safe foods for all depends on the government’s good will.
He also demanded setting up of food courts in all districts in line with the Safe Food Act 2013 to ensure instant punishment for food adulterators.
Echoing Humayun Kabir, CAB president Kazi Farruque said the authorities concerned conduct mobile court drives against food adulterators only in special cases following news reports on the issue.
He recommended implementation of the existing food safety related laws to stop the use of health hazardous chemicals in foods.
Replying to a question about the BSTI’s role in reining in food adulteration, MA Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), an environmental organisation, also alleged that the regulatory body is not working efficiently.
Responding to a question what steps should be taken to check food adulteration, the Bapa secretary said, “It can be prevented if the government wants to do so. The government should take effective steps to prevent food adulteration across the country.”
However, BSTI director general Iqramul Haque denied the allegations brought against them by CAB and said they are conducting a plenty of mobile court drives against food adulterators across the country, including the capital.
Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is detecting chemicals in foodstuffs, including fruits, through setting up check posts at eight entry points around the capital, he said, adding that they are taking actions, including cancellation of relevant licenses under their jurisdiction.
The BSTI DG said they will hold a seminar soon to elicit experts’ opinion and fix next course of action based on the opinions.
He hoped that with the enforcement of Safe Food Act 2013 and the tentative enactment of proposed Formalin Control Act by the parliament, food adulteration will come down to a great extent.
BSTI sources said, there are 155 products, including foodstuffs, under the agency’s jurisdiction, of which 59 fruit items are sold in packets.
Iqramul said, besides the 155 products, they, upon instructions from the government, are running activities to prevent the use of poisonous chemicals in vegetables and fishes.
Mentioning that food commodities are being sold at markets using fake BSTI seals, Iqramul Haque said they, on receipt of such allegations, are taking legal action, including filing of cases against the manufacturers concerned.
To expand the ongoing drive against chemical-laced food products, he said they will increase the number of chemicals detection machines. “More machines are being imported at a cost of Tk 18 crore under a project.”
Contacted, director general of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Abul Hossain Miah said they are carrying out a countrywide campaign to raise public awareness against food adulteration.
The DNCRP DG said, they began inspecting markets on April 6, 2010 as per the Consumers Rights Protection Act 2009.
In the last four years till June 23, 2014, they inspected more than 35,980 business establishments and realised Tk 8, 27, 99, 800 in fine from 9,118 of them each.
BSTI director Kamal Prashad Das said in 15 days from June 1 to June 15 this year, BSTI, aided by deputy commissioners and police, conducted 69 mobile court drives against chemicals-treated foods across the country.
During the drives, 145 cases were filed against those involved in treating foods with chemicals and Tk 15,37,000 were realised in fine, while chemical-mixed 2,81,096 kg mangoes, 32,72,600 kg litchi, 11,280 kg berries and good amount of apples, grapes and guavas were destroyed in addition to jailing offenders.
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI), the country’s only National Standards body, is not playing its due role in curbing the adulteration of foodstuffs, including the use of toxic chemicals, alleges the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
CAB general secretary Humayun Kabir told UNB that all the regulatory bodies of the government, including the BSTI, must play an effective role in ensuring safe foods alongside strengthening the monitoring system and mobile court drives against dishonest traders who use toxic chemicals in foodstuffs.
Asked whether the regulatory bodies are playing their due roles in checking rampant food adulteration, he answered in the negative, but said that ensuring safe foods for all depends on the government’s good will.
He also demanded setting up of food courts in all districts in line with the Safe Food Act 2013 to ensure instant punishment for food adulterators.
Echoing Humayun Kabir, CAB president Kazi Farruque said the authorities concerned conduct mobile court drives against food adulterators only in special cases following news reports on the issue.
He recommended implementation of the existing food safety related laws to stop the use of health hazardous chemicals in foods.
Replying to a question about the BSTI’s role in reining in food adulteration, MA Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), an environmental organisation, also alleged that the regulatory body is not working efficiently.
Responding to a question what steps should be taken to check food adulteration, the Bapa secretary said, “It can be prevented if the government wants to do so. The government should take effective steps to prevent food adulteration across the country.”
However, BSTI director general Iqramul Haque denied the allegations brought against them by CAB and said they are conducting a plenty of mobile court drives against food adulterators across the country, including the capital.
Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is detecting chemicals in foodstuffs, including fruits, through setting up check posts at eight entry points around the capital, he said, adding that they are taking actions, including cancellation of relevant licenses under their jurisdiction.
The BSTI DG said they will hold a seminar soon to elicit experts’ opinion and fix next course of action based on the opinions.
He hoped that with the enforcement of Safe Food Act 2013 and the tentative enactment of proposed Formalin Control Act by the parliament, food adulteration will come down to a great extent.
BSTI sources said, there are 155 products, including foodstuffs, under the agency’s jurisdiction, of which 59 fruit items are sold in packets.
Iqramul said, besides the 155 products, they, upon instructions from the government, are running activities to prevent the use of poisonous chemicals in vegetables and fishes.
Mentioning that food commodities are being sold at markets using fake BSTI seals, Iqramul Haque said they, on receipt of such allegations, are taking legal action, including filing of cases against the manufacturers concerned.
To expand the ongoing drive against chemical-laced food products, he said they will increase the number of chemicals detection machines. “More machines are being imported at a cost of Tk 18 crore under a project.”
Contacted, director general of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Abul Hossain Miah said they are carrying out a countrywide campaign to raise public awareness against food adulteration.
The DNCRP DG said, they began inspecting markets on April 6, 2010 as per the Consumers Rights Protection Act 2009.
In the last four years till June 23, 2014, they inspected more than 35,980 business establishments and realised Tk 8, 27, 99, 800 in fine from 9,118 of them each.
BSTI director Kamal Prashad Das said in 15 days from June 1 to June 15 this year, BSTI, aided by deputy commissioners and police, conducted 69 mobile court drives against chemicals-treated foods across the country.
During the drives, 145 cases were filed against those involved in treating foods with chemicals and Tk 15,37,000 were realised in fine, while chemical-mixed 2,81,096 kg mangoes, 32,72,600 kg litchi, 11,280 kg berries and good amount of apples, grapes and guavas were destroyed in addition to jailing offenders.
