BFSA to launch mobile apps for consumers soon

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) will launch mobile apps shortly to help the consumers identify the eateries selling safe food.

"We will introduce mobile apps soon to help the consumers know about the hotels/restaurants selling safe food," BFSA Chairman Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque told a press briefing at the National Press Club in the city on Saturday.

He said National Food Safety Day will be observed across the country today (Sunday) with a theme "want a healthy-strong nation: no alternative to nutritious safe food".

Marking the day, Mr Hoque said, a two-day safe food fair kicks off at Bangladesh Krishibid Institution in the city today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the fair.

Different government organisations, food processing companies, traders, importers and other stakeholders will participate in the fair to showcase their safe food products.

Besides, BFSA will hold rallies today while seminars tomorrow across the country on the occasion of Food Safety Day.

In a bid to create awareness among the consumers, essay competition will also be held among different levels of students.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder who was present as the chief guest said BFSA is now working with other government departments/agencies to ensure safe food for consumers.

The process to recruit more manpower for BFSA is underway, he added. "It (BFSA) will work itself after completing the recruitment process."

Parliament passed the Food Safety Act, 2013 on October 10, 2013 (after repealing and re-enacting existing outdated laws).

BFSA was set up on February 02, 2015 with certain objectives to establish a modern and technological food safety system in the country to help implement the government's Vision 2021.

The law has provisions to establish an efficient and effective authority to regulate the activities relating to food production, its import, processing, stockpiling, supplying, marketing and sales.

One of the aims is to ensure the people's access to safe food through appropriate application of scientific process and state-of-the-art technology.

Food Secretary Shahabuddin Ahmed and high officials concerned were also present at the press conference.

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