Lack of coordination between the local government bodies and prosecution agencies has made the anti-adulteration drives ineffective, accelerating unchecked food adulteration and chemical contamination in food items, according to a study by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
It says although the Health Directorate and the local government bodies have a little coordination in collecting the samples of food items from field level and sends these to laboratories; they have no coordination in market monitoring and supervision of food.
The TIB revealed the findings of the study titled, ‘Ensure Food Safety: Challenge of Good Governance and Way Forward’, at a press conference at a city hotel on Thursday.
TIB programme manager (research and policy division) Shahnur Rahman read out the findings of the study at the press conference while TIB trustee board chairperson Sultana Kamal, its executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman and deputy executive director Dr Sumaiya Khair were present.
The study says despite some positive steps taken by the government to check food adulteration in the country, it has no proper step to establish an integrated food safety system.
Referring to the weakness of the newly passed the Food Safety Act 2013, the study says although the government passed the act, it has not yet made the law effective by announcement of gazette notification.
About the corruption on food safety management, it says sanitary inspectors frequently take bribe from the vendors and restaurants during their field visits and BSTI field officers also take bribe in collecting samples of food items and give certificate to the factories.
TIB put forward a 16-point recommendation to the government at the press conference.
The recommendations include effective implementation of laws for ensuring food safety, amendment of the Consumers Rights Act 20009 to make the mobile court drive effective to check food adulteration and establishment of Food Courts at district and metropolitan levels. – UNB
