Experts want proper implementation of national chemical guideline

The government should ensure proper implementation of the national chemical guideline for the local textile and garment industry to boost exports, experts said today.

They spoke at a discussion on the "draft national chemical management guidelines for the textile and garments industry of Bangladesh" organised by the commerce ministry at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital.

The guideline should be implemented in a fruitful way, Asif Ashraf, a director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporter Association, said at the event.

The buyers have different requirements to ensure safety and the local garment makers will have to build up capacity in chemical management, he said.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German government is helping the commerce ministry to develop the guideline.

The guideline is aimed at protecting the workers from the hazard of chemicals, prevent or reduce the incidence of chemical-induced illness and injuries and enhance the protection of the general public and the environment of Bangladesh.

According to the draft guideline, the guideline would be applied to any work activity in the textiles and readymade garment manufacturing in which chemicals are used regardless of the size of the economic activity.