The issue of formalin, an aqueous solution of a chemical compound, formaldehyde, used as disinfectant and preservative, appeared in the national news media afresh during the past few days. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has put up a few formalin detector-equipped check-posts at the entry points of Dhaka city and started destroying the fruits treated with formalin. The DMP chief formally inaugurated the drive. But the fruit importers and traders took exception to the drive and they took to the streets late last week protesting, what they termed, harassment during the official drive against the formalin-treated fruits.
The fruit importers and traders had threatened to keep the shutters of their business establishments down for eight hours last Saturday. But following intervention by the apex trade body, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the fruit traders withdrew their strike call. The traders were given the assurance that their representatives would also be included in the teams conducting the drive against the use of formalin in fruits. However, the operation of the DMP's anti-formalin check-posts set up on the fringes of Dhaka city reportedly is very much on, independently.
Against this backdrop Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed Sunday last told the newsmen that the maximum punishment in the case of formalin-related offences would be life-imprisonment and a provision to this effect would be incorporated in the draft 'Formalin Control Bill' now under the scrutiny of his ministry. Earlier, a provision for imprisonment, up to a ten-year term, was kept in the draft bill. The commerce minister expressed the hope that tougher punishment would help reduce the abuse of formalin, the consumption of which might cause a number of serious diseases, including cancer.
It is not just formalin. Many other toxic chemicals are allegedly used by unscrupulous sections of producers and traders to lengthen shelf-life of perishable food items, including fish and milk. Carbide is another chemical used widely to ripen fruits such as mango, pineapple and banana. What is more worrying is that some of the chemicals are being used at the level of growers, who in most cases are illiterate and thus oblivious of the ill-effects of chemicals on human health. Moreover, the health hazards emanating from the extensive and unplanned use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables during their cultivation do also deserve a serious attention of the health authorities.
The adoption of a piece of tough legislation by parliament against the abuse of formalin or any other chemical would not mean anything unless the same is enforced rigourously. There is no dearth of laws providing harsh punishment, including death sentence, for criminal offences. But mainly due to lax enforcement of such laws, the offences are being committed, in some cases, rather brazenly. In addition to ensuring the enforcement of the relevant laws, the government would have to launch a massive campaign, even in rural areas, against the use of harmful chemicals in food, explaining in easy language about the hazards that such chemicals pose to human health. If such a campaign is carried out properly, this might prove more helpful than any tough legal provision.
