Food safety concern

THE commerce adviser has aptly suggested that our import polices be reviewed to incorporate health and hygiene issues. The point is highly relevant as consumers are still in confusion about the melamine-tainted milk powder which has cast a shadow of doubt on the whole array of dairy products. Confusion persists.
Making import policies in light of our health and hygiene needs is no doubt an objective that should have been attained long ago. We can feel it the hard way when our own exported food items have to undergo a wide range of tests and rigorous scrutiny abroad. So, it is only logical that the government and other agencies would demonstrate the same kind of concern and alertness while clearing imported foods for public consumption.
The crisis that the melamine-tainted imported powdered milk triggered made it amply clear that the facilities available locally for testing the quality and reliability of imported foodstuff are far from satisfactory.
So, installation of modern testing facilities is long overdue. Similarly, it is not enough to be on guard against the imported spurious or substandard commodities only; it is equally important to keep a watchful eye on the local producers, at least a section of them, not known for the highest standards of business ethics and honesty.
The area where vast improvement is required is coordination among the agencies overseeing food safety. BSTI, the government agency in charge of ensuring quality, is under the commerce ministry, while the Public Health Institute is placed under the healthy ministry. These organisations never achieved the desired level of coordination and their overall performance suffered. The discovery of melamine in milk, which many believe to be a belated one, is a case in point. Obviously, the involvement of the health ministry with such public health concerns should be much greater and effective. Without question, issuing statements after the damage is done is not enough to protect people from the racket of dishonest producers and sellers of adulterated or substandard commodities.
The melamine scandal has shown that no particular organisation shoulders the responsibility of handling such matters and keeping the consumers informed. Too many cacophonous voices were heard, and it was not easy for the consumers to draw any conclusion. Therefore, a single agency with clearly defined responsibility and authority should be designated to deal with such issues impacting public health.