WHILE the country is relentlessly yearning for new export windows, a report in a national English daily on Thursday is disturbing as the country is likely to lose the potential of traditional export market opportunities to Europe. The report said an export shipment of local food processor Pran was detained in Europe for containing rodent excrement, a hazardous element. The border control of Italy on May 21 refused entry to the shipment containing Pran-branded noodles, rice, olive pickle, vinegar, potato crackers, sweet toast, mango chutney, puffed rice, among others, on the grounds that it had become contaminated by rat droppings. Europe is extra-alert to food purity. Therefore, the authorities immediately sent out a warning over Pran products via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, a notification system operated by the European Commission to exchange information on identified hazards in food and feed between the member states. The EU’s Dhaka office also informed the matter to the government and Pran authorities on May 25 and called for measures to avoid repeat of the incident.
Exposure of such contamination in Pran products is not the first. The US Food and Drug Administration detected high levels of lead in Pran’s packaged turmeric about seven months ago and asked Pran to recall the product. At that time, presence of hazardous lead from 39 parts per million to 58 ppm was found in Pran’s turmeric power although its permissible limit was 2.5 ppm. And hence a question is gaining grounds— what are the responsibilities of the authorities concerned like BSTI, Customs or the Industry Ministry of Bangladesh. Why have they failed to foil food tampering before handing over the shipment clearance of contaminated Pran products. As Pran did the same in the past, why and how Pran could pass through the check points despite its bad past record? The hypercritic may discover a happy marriage between Pran and the Custom officials to this regard.
PRAN products claim ISO 9001:2000 accreditation and also HALAL and HACCP compliant. It has BSTI certification. So it is natural to ask the misdeeds by Pran no doubt proves deceitful linkage in availing its certification. How much the goodwill of Bangladeshi products has been lost by this incident is unknown. Pran not only damages its image, but it also broke the business trust, which should have not been blackened for the national interest.
For Bangladesh exports of food items to Europe or elsewhere is an opportunity by all counts. Opening new export windows means a boost and increase market possibilities and a positive impact on the domestic economy. It should not be misused by anybody as it blocks opportunities to many others.
We ask the regulatory bodies to take their job seriously and not behave as if they will have no accountability.
