Offenders to face severe punishment
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
FE Report
Health and Family Welfarw Adviser AMM Shakhawat Ali said Monday stern action will be taken against those who are responsible for the import of melamine-mixed baby food in the country from abroad.
Relevant rules are going to be amended soon to free the country from the threat of contaminated baby food, Dr Ali said at a press briefing held at the secretariat on the day.
There is no cause for anxiety as no child has fallen ill after taking imported baby food in Bangladesh, the adviser assured.
Along with taking necessary steps in this regard, the government has already asked the authorities concerned to conduct drive against the unscrupulous people who are involved in the import of adulterated baby food from abroad and seize such baby food, if there is any, the adviser said.
The deputy commissioners of all districts of the country have been instructed to ensure proper enforcement of law and market-monitoring intensively so that no contaminated baby food can pose any threat to public health, the adviser informed.
Ali said the mobile courts are working to locate toxic baby food from the market since September 17 and 13 brands of baby food have so far been identified which were being sold in the market without any registration from the authorities concerned. Among these, only two brands of baby food named Yashili-1 and Yashili-2 were imported from China.
Referring to the 'Breast Milk Substitutes Ordinance, 1984' Ali said, according to the law, anyone responsible for import, marketing and sale of adulterated baby food in the country can be punished with a maximum two years of imprisonment and pay fines.
He said the law will be amended soon in keeping with the changed circumstances. Provisions will be there to stop production, marketing and sale of baby food mixed with ingredients injurious to public health, he said.
After amendment, the law will provide for punishing anyone on charge of repeatedly producing, marketing and selling of adulterated baby food in Bangladesh with a maximum five years of imprisonment and/or pay a fine up to Taka 100,000 if found guilty, he added.
Responding to a question, the adviser said, adulterated baby food can be identified in the country through proper examination. Bangladesh Council for Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has adequate equipment to conduct such examinations in the country.
When asked, he said, no official statistics is available regarding baby food consumption in the country.
Health and Family Welfarw Adviser AMM Shakhawat Ali said Monday stern action will be taken against those who are responsible for the import of melamine-mixed baby food in the country from abroad.
Relevant rules are going to be amended soon to free the country from the threat of contaminated baby food, Dr Ali said at a press briefing held at the secretariat on the day.
There is no cause for anxiety as no child has fallen ill after taking imported baby food in Bangladesh, the adviser assured.
Along with taking necessary steps in this regard, the government has already asked the authorities concerned to conduct drive against the unscrupulous people who are involved in the import of adulterated baby food from abroad and seize such baby food, if there is any, the adviser said.
The deputy commissioners of all districts of the country have been instructed to ensure proper enforcement of law and market-monitoring intensively so that no contaminated baby food can pose any threat to public health, the adviser informed.
Ali said the mobile courts are working to locate toxic baby food from the market since September 17 and 13 brands of baby food have so far been identified which were being sold in the market without any registration from the authorities concerned. Among these, only two brands of baby food named Yashili-1 and Yashili-2 were imported from China.
Referring to the 'Breast Milk Substitutes Ordinance, 1984' Ali said, according to the law, anyone responsible for import, marketing and sale of adulterated baby food in the country can be punished with a maximum two years of imprisonment and pay fines.
He said the law will be amended soon in keeping with the changed circumstances. Provisions will be there to stop production, marketing and sale of baby food mixed with ingredients injurious to public health, he said.
After amendment, the law will provide for punishing anyone on charge of repeatedly producing, marketing and selling of adulterated baby food in Bangladesh with a maximum five years of imprisonment and/or pay a fine up to Taka 100,000 if found guilty, he added.
Responding to a question, the adviser said, adulterated baby food can be identified in the country through proper examination. Bangladesh Council for Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has adequate equipment to conduct such examinations in the country.
When asked, he said, no official statistics is available regarding baby food consumption in the country.