HC asks govt to frame rule to prevent chemical use in fruits

The High Court (HC) has issued a five-point directive to prevent the use of chemicals to ripen and preserve fruits, reports bdnews24.com.
A copy of the full verdict has been obtained by the news agency.
In its directives, the court asked the government to set up testing facilities at ports and to formulate a guideline to prevent use of chemicals in fruits within six months and disseminate it to all tiers of the administration.
Chemical test units have to be set up at all land and sea ports within six months to prevent entry of imported fruits to the local markets without testing.
The court also ordered that law enforcement personnel be posted in Rajshahi and other mango producing regions during harvest season to prevent the use of chemicals.
Committees have to be formed to monitor fruit markets and cold storages throughout the year.
The HC also ordered the government to issue a circular to law enforcement agencies instructing them to take legal action against the use of chemicals in fruits.
In 2010, the HC issued a rule on a petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh. After the final hearing on that rule, the bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain issued the verdict.
Over two years after that verdict, its full copy was published on Tuesday amid widespread public dialogue on the health hazard caused by the use of chemicals in fruits.
Formalin is a water solution of formaldehyde, used in textile, paper and paint industry and preservation of dead bodies. It is widely used in Bangladesh to preserve fish, vegetables and fruits even though it is seriously harmful to the human body.
The cabinet on June 30 approved the Formalin Control Act 2014, which includes up to life term for offenders.
The draft law, once passed, will require anyone importing, producing, transporting, selling or using formalin to obtain licences. Licence-holders will have to show their records on demand.