A recent Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) move to check the quality of processed food items being imported from India has almost brought import of these through Benapole Land Port to a halt.
BSTI in a letter issued on October 28 asked importers to have a complete quality check by BSTI before offloading processed food items at the port. This led to a suspension of offloading processed food items since Wednesday.
The move raised questions about the capability of BSTI to check the quality of a large number of food items. It takes 15 to 21 days to receive certificates of quality to reach the importers.
Importers said they are going to face loss in crores of taka due to the suspension of offloading food items at the port.
According to import rules 2006-2009, an importer wishing to import processed food items has to give all necessary information in a BSTI form to Shilpa O Gobeshona Parishad.
The importers have to submit samples of the food items after these reach any land ports in the country to two organisations, BSTI and BCSIR, to get the final approval.
After running tests on the food items, the BSTI or BCSIR may take legal actions against the importer if they are not happy with the test results.
According to importers, they bring in a large quantity of food items including powdered health drinks, chocolates, crisps and dry fish. Due to the delay in getting BSTI approval, feeding the market is being hampered.
They alleged that the officials and employees of BSTI do not do their duty properly which contributes to more delays in getting the test results. They even alleged that officials waste time in sending reports if they are not bribed.
Matiur Raham, an importer, said it is necessary to set up a branch office of BSTI in Benapole.
An assistant commissioner of customs said they would take initiatives to offload the food items after payment of customs duty as it is taking a long time to get the BSTI quality certificates.
Categories: Daily Bangladesh News
