Mohammed Badrul Ahsan :
The government’s apathy to provide adequate support to Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) hindering proper functioning of the agency since its inception, officials said.
Inadequate manpower, absence of rules and regulations have also appeared to be deterrents for proper functioning of the agency even over one and a half years after its inception, they observed.
But of late, the BFSA authorities started drawing up some regulations for carrying out its operational activities effectively and smoothly.
The BFSA cannot carry out drive properly as there is no enforcement of the existing law, thus making it tough to ensure food safety.
The Parliament passed the Food Safety Act, 2013 on October 10, 2013 in order to make provisions for ensuring citizens’ rights to safe food for the protection of human health and life.
Besides, it paved the way for the formation of the BFSA.
The BFSA, which is committed to ensuring food safety by utilising its full strength and unstinting efforts, came into being on February 2, 2015.
The organisation is responsible for supervising the activities related to food production, import, processing, stockpiling, supply, marketing and sales.
“We are in the process of formulating regulations,” chairman of BFSA Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque told The New Nation.
He said the BFSA has prepared a draft regulation on additives.
It is now preparing regulations on sampling, hygiene and others as well.
The agency has received Tk100 million allocation from the government in the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 to run its activities.
Hoque also said the BFSA has drafted a Strategic Plan 2016-2021.
The BFSA has requested the Ministry of Public Administration for appointing 1004 staff for it.
But the ministry gave approval for recruitment of 422 only.
The recruitment of the 422 people will take some time due to completion of some bureaucratic formalities, according to the BFSA.
The BFSA is coordinating with 18 ministries and 400 organisations/departments in the works for ensuring food safety.
It has the authority to give instructions to the ministries and departments for ensuring food safety.
The BFSA, since its inception, has carried out a few drives through mobile courts showing a little progress.
“It is a big challenge. We need coordinated efforts to ensure food safety from the people of the country and the government’ ministries and agencies,” Hoque said.
At present, only 10 people (against the required number of 11, including chairman, members and secretary) are now looking after the activities of BFSA.
The BFSA chairman said all the sanitary inspectors across the country are now looking after the food safety issue.
“We started campaigns for creating mass awareness about food safety,” the chairman added.
“We welcome all-out support to all food control agencies, food business operators and people of the country towards the goal of establishing a modern and technological food safety system in Bangladesh to contribute to the government’s Vision 2021,” he said.
He said BFSA is now continuing a campaign that includes distributing leaflets and pasting posters all over the country to create mass awareness about food safety.
The government’s apathy to provide adequate support to Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) hindering proper functioning of the agency since its inception, officials said.
Inadequate manpower, absence of rules and regulations have also appeared to be deterrents for proper functioning of the agency even over one and a half years after its inception, they observed.
But of late, the BFSA authorities started drawing up some regulations for carrying out its operational activities effectively and smoothly.
The BFSA cannot carry out drive properly as there is no enforcement of the existing law, thus making it tough to ensure food safety.
The Parliament passed the Food Safety Act, 2013 on October 10, 2013 in order to make provisions for ensuring citizens’ rights to safe food for the protection of human health and life.
Besides, it paved the way for the formation of the BFSA.
The BFSA, which is committed to ensuring food safety by utilising its full strength and unstinting efforts, came into being on February 2, 2015.
The organisation is responsible for supervising the activities related to food production, import, processing, stockpiling, supply, marketing and sales.
“We are in the process of formulating regulations,” chairman of BFSA Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque told The New Nation.
He said the BFSA has prepared a draft regulation on additives.
It is now preparing regulations on sampling, hygiene and others as well.
The agency has received Tk100 million allocation from the government in the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 to run its activities.
Hoque also said the BFSA has drafted a Strategic Plan 2016-2021.
The BFSA has requested the Ministry of Public Administration for appointing 1004 staff for it.
But the ministry gave approval for recruitment of 422 only.
The recruitment of the 422 people will take some time due to completion of some bureaucratic formalities, according to the BFSA.
The BFSA is coordinating with 18 ministries and 400 organisations/departments in the works for ensuring food safety.
It has the authority to give instructions to the ministries and departments for ensuring food safety.
The BFSA, since its inception, has carried out a few drives through mobile courts showing a little progress.
“It is a big challenge. We need coordinated efforts to ensure food safety from the people of the country and the government’ ministries and agencies,” Hoque said.
At present, only 10 people (against the required number of 11, including chairman, members and secretary) are now looking after the activities of BFSA.
The BFSA chairman said all the sanitary inspectors across the country are now looking after the food safety issue.
“We started campaigns for creating mass awareness about food safety,” the chairman added.
“We welcome all-out support to all food control agencies, food business operators and people of the country towards the goal of establishing a modern and technological food safety system in Bangladesh to contribute to the government’s Vision 2021,” he said.
He said BFSA is now continuing a campaign that includes distributing leaflets and pasting posters all over the country to create mass awareness about food safety.
