Loopholes to facilitate entry of contaminated food items galore

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FE Report
The absence of proper monitoring at the import stage leaves enough scopes for the entry of contaminated and substandard food items, into the country.
Under the existing rules, according to official sources, the customs department is required to seek from the importers of powdered milk the clearance certificates issued by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) to the effect that the consignments are free of any radioactive contamination.
The need for production of BAEC certificates was first introduced in the mid-eighties following the import of powdered milk from Poland soon after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in the erstwhile Soviet Union.
The customs releases imported milk powder consignments immediately after receiving the clearance certificates from the BAEC.
Meanwhile, the National Board of Revenue is yet to receive any instruction from the higher government authority to stop the release of powdered milk brands, including the ones suspected to be containing melamine.
Officials said importers are not required to produce clearance certificates from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) at the time of taking delivery of powdered milk from the port.
The import policy, however, has made it mandatory for all importers to test sample of any food items from BSTI, but the importers are not required to produce the same at the port, they added.
"Unfortunately, there is no way to know the presence of harmful elements in food items barring the radioactive element. Actually none ever felt the need for conducting such tests," said a customs official.
Adviser to the tax ombudsman's office Rashidul Ahsan Chowdhury said: "Customs department could play a major role to check the entry of contaminated food items into the country."
"It can be done under 'single window concept' where representatives of BSTI, commerce ministry, police, bank and other relevant persons will be available with their equipment to give test reports instantly, he said.
Presently, importers are to pay 46 per cent tax including customs duty, value added tax and advance income tax for importing powdered milk.