High Court order to ban import of food containing harmful chemicals including formalin

The Dhaka Times Desk The High Court has ordered not to allow food products containing chemicals harmful to human health, including formalin, to enter the country. Besides, the court has asked to install such chemical testing devices in all markets controlled by the local government including the city corporation. Instructions have also been given to provide testing opportunities to interested buyers.

The bench of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Qazi Md Izarul Haque Akander gave this order on November 21 after the preliminary hearing of a writ on this matter. In the order, the court said, necessary testing equipment should be provided to all markets approved and controlled by the local government to test formalin and other chemicals. In this, the City Corporation will install the device in the regulated market within a month. This order should be implemented consistently in other markets. The court also said, to ensure that only foodstuffs suitable for human consumption can enter the country, all the ports of the country must provide necessary equipment for testing chemical substances. Foodstuffs imported at ports should be restricted. Food containing toxic levels of formalin and other chemicals should not be allowed to enter after circumcision.

The court directed the information secretary to launch a campaign on the harmful side of the chemical in all media within 15 days of receiving the copy of the order to create public awareness. Commerce Secretary, Environment Secretary, Local Government Secretary, Health Secretary, Industry Secretary, Fisheries Secretary, Food Secretary, Home Secretary, Information Secretary are asked to give progress report by January 7.

The court also issued three rulings. These instructions will remain in effect on an interim basis until this dispute is resolved. In the rule, it has been asked why it should not be declared that the parties concerned have failed to prevent harmful formalin and any other chemicals in food, import, stop distribution and control the use of these chemicals and stop the use of such chemicals. Within four weeks, 21 people including Commerce Secretary, Environment Secretary, Local Government Secretary, Health Secretary, Industry Secretary, Fisheries Secretary, Food Secretary, Home Secretary, Information Secretary, Director General of Environment Department and Director General of Fisheries and Livestock Department have been asked to respond to Ramnal. The hearing of the ruling will begin on January 15.

Advocate AM Amin Uddin, Advocate Iqbal Kabir Liton and Advocate Md Khairul Alam for the writ and Deputy Attorney General Al Amin Sarkar for the state heard. It should be noted that the Director of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber and Commerce Industries (FBCCI) Md. Helal Uddin filed this writ in the High Court on November 19.