The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) will launch an awareness campaign among the consumers on buying disease-free cattle on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul- Adha, officials said.
Under the move, the food safety authority will set up stalls with the collaboration of Department of Livestock Services (DLS) at all the cattle markets in the capital.
"We will set up stalls at the cattle markets in the capital to ensure sales of safe cattle to the consumers during the upcoming Eid-ul- Adha," chairman of BFSA Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque told the FE.
He said BFSA has already discussed the matter with the DLS to carry out joint efforts at cattle markets for ensuring hygienic slaughtering of cattle to the consumers.
A considerable number of consumers don't know how to identify safe cattle during the festival.
A section of unscrupulous traders remain involved to fatten cows and buffalos artificially (using fodder with chemicals and other harmful medicine) on the occasion of Eid-ul- Adha cheating the innocent buyers.
The chairman of BFSA said they are now preparing a video documentary to create awareness about safe cattle among the consumers.
It will also provide tips to the consumers about safe slaughtering of cattle during Eid-ul- Adha.
He said they have started imparting training to the cattle farm owners on how to nurture safe cattle on the occasion of the coming festival.
He said that government officials with the rank of executive magistrates started receiving training organised/ provided by the BFSA on the implementation of Food Safety Act- 2013.
The Bangladesh National Parliament passed Food Safety Act- 2013 on 10th October 2013.
The BFSA was set up on February 2, 2015, aiming to ensure people's right toward access to safe food through appropriate application of scientific processes and state of the art technology.
The Food Safety Act- 2013 also allows the BFSA to monitor the activities relating to food production, import, processing, stockpiling, supplying, marketing and sales.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com