Checking formalin use in food

In the backdrop of large scale use of formalin in food items, the cabinet has approved, in principle, Formalin Control Bill 2013 with a provision to award food adulterators' jail-terms up to ten years and Taka 0.5 million as fine.
Cabinet secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told journalists at the secretariat after the cabinet meeting on November 4 last that the proposed law provides districts and Upazila level committees with the authority to control use of formalin. It says if a person uses any equipment for producing this chemical substance without a licence can be sentenced to suffer up to ten years of jail or a fine of taka 0.5 million or both.
If anyone holding a formalin licence fails to abide by any condition laid down in the licence, the person could be convicted and sentenced to suffer a maximum jail terms of seven years, according to the draft of the proposed Formalin Control Act. Deputy Commissioners of each district will be empowered to issue licences for carrying, storing, selling and using formalin. The ministry of commerce formulated the draft of the law early this year and changes were made thrice in consultation with stakeholders.
Formalin is smuggled into the country despite a ban,now in force, on its import since November last year. Traders use this toxic substance to preserve a variety of food items -- fish, fruits, vegetables, liquid milk, spices etc. According to a dependable estimate, 500 tonnes of formalin enter the country for use in plastic industries, toy factories, laboratories and in other institutions per year. India does not produce formalin. Bangladesh imports formalin mainly from China, Spain, Italy and some other countries.
Although there is no actual statistics available about the use of formalin in the country, it is assumed that not more than 100 tonnes of this substance is used in factories and laboratories and for preserving biological specimens in medical colleges and other academic institutions. The rest 400 tonnes of formalin is consumed through fruits, fishes, meat, fresh milk and other food items. It is indeed an alarming situation for the nation.
Several months ago the government announced restrictions on import and sale of formalin in the country. However, to what extent the restrictions have served the purpose of protecting human health could not be known. Earlier, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) recommended imposition of restriction and close monitoring on import, sale and distribution of formalin and other toxic chemicals largely used for adulteration of food and many other items. The BSTI proposal was put forward at an inter-ministerial meeting on intensifying drive against adulteration of foods in September last year.
In addition to large scale use of formalin, other harmful chemical items which are frequently used in food items also deserve serious attention. Experts suggest that the authorities concerned should ensure supply of safe food through close supervision by the relevant agencies and strict application of laws.
The High Court (HC) in February last year, to mention, asked the police authority to file criminal cases under the Special Powers Act, 1974 against those using chemicals to ripen or preserve fruits, and sell those. The HC verdict was issued upon a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). The HC asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the customs' authorities to monitor land and sea ports to prevent contaminated imported fruits from entering the country.
The HC order said that the NBR and the customs would test imported fruits at ports to ascertain whether they are treated with chemicals. If they detect contaminated fruits, those must not be allowed to enter the country, said the verdict. The HC also said the use of chemicals to ripen and preserve fruits is illegal, and ordered the BSTI and law enforcers to monitor fruit depots across the country regularly to stop storage or sale of contaminated fruits.
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