New Act on food safety underway
WE welcome news of the government move to replace the five decade old Pure Food Ordinance (1959) with Safe Food Act – 2013, which is being drafted. It should go a long way in combating pervasive food adulteration in the country. The new Act, once passed into law will provide for a national level advisory panel on food adulteration paving the way for formation of food courts that can and will try food adulterators. There are also plans to have technical committees and experts' panels that will test the quality of food. With penalties ranging from two years imprisonment to fines up to Tk. 500,000, in contrast to Tk. 5,000 under the old Ordinance, there is growing hope the Act will be effective in fending-off the adulteration menace.
While the old Ordinance covered only eight food items the new Act encompasses 200, which in itself is a step in the right direction. The new law would allow food authorities to monitor food production, processing and marketing which are very important in safeguarding consumers' interests. On the other hand, consumers can actually take unscrupulous traders to court for alleged adulteration, something that had not been possible till now since a legal regulatory framework has been missing.
While the Act could provide much needed legal framework for government bodies to go after the issue of adulteration and adulterators, its efficacy will depend on the political will to enforce it. We believe the Act is a sorely needed piece of legislation and urge its passage into law sooner than later.
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