Q.

What is the constitutional maintain regarding food safety in

Bangladesh? What do you mean by adulteration of food? Discuss in
brief at least 4 laws regarding food safety in Bangladesh.
Constitutional maintain regarding food safety in Bangladesh: Article
15 and 18 of Bangladesh constitution regarding food safety.
Article-15(1) states that it shall be a fundamental responsibility of the
state to secure its citizens the basic necessities of life, including food,
clothing, education, shelter and medical care.
Article 18 states that it shall be primary duty of the state to raise the level
of nutrition and the improvement of public health. The state shall adopt
effective measures to prevent the consumption of alcoholic and other
intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.
Adulteration of food: Food means such product including fruits and
drinks which are necessary for living, nutrition and health of human,
domestic animal and birds.
Safe food means foods which are not harmful for the health but safe for
the health.
Adulteration of food means foods which are adulterated and are not safe
for the health. Adulterated food is harmful for the health.
Food is declared adulterated if1. A substance is added which depreciate or injuriously affects it.
2. Cheaper of inferior substance are substituted wholly or in part.
3. Any valuable or necessary constituent has been wholly or in part
abstracted.
4. It is coloured or otherwise treated, to improve its appearance.
5. For whatever reason its quality is below the standard.
Laws regarding food safety: 4 laws regarding food safety in Bangladesh
are discussed below:1. Product safety and Special powers Act, 1974:
Penalty for adulteration of, or sale of adulterated food,
drink, drugs or cosmetics:
Section 25C of the special powers Act, 1974 states that1) Whoever adulterates any article of food, drink or drug and whoever
knowingly sells and offers adulterated any article of food, drink or drug
which harmful for human body and safety, shall be punishable with death,
or with imprisonment for life, or a term of fourteen years and shall also
be liable to fine.

2) Whoever adulterates any heir oil, toilet soap or other cosmetic and
whoever knowingly sells and offers heir oil, toilet soap or other cosmetic
which can be harmful to skin and heir, shall be punishable of
imprisonment for a term of five years and shall also be liable to fine.
2. Product safety and the penal code, 1860:
Sections 272 to 276 of the penal code, 1860 also provides some
mechanism to ensure product safety as follows:Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
Punishment for Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale is
imprisonment which may extend to 6 months, or fine which may extend
to one thousand taka, or both.
Sale of noxious food or drink
Punishment for sale of noxious food or drink is imprisonment which may
extend to 6 months or fine which may extend to one thousand taka, or
both.
Adulteration of drugs
Punishment for adulteration of drugs is imprisonment which may extend
to six months, or fine which may extend to one thousand taka, or both.
Sale of adulterated drugs
Punishment for sale of adulterated drugs is imprisonment which may
extend to 6 months, or fine which may extend to one thousand taka, or
both.
Sale of drug and as a different drug or preparation
Punishment for sale of drug as a different drug or preparation is
imprisonment which may extend to 6 months, of fine which may extend
to one thousand taka, or both.
3. Product safety and drug control ordinance, 1982:
Registration of medicines:
No medicine of any kind shall be manufactured for sale or to be imported,
distributed, stoked, exhibited or sold unless it is registered with the
license authority.
Prescription of unregistered medicine prohibited:
No physician shall prescribe for any patient any medicine which is not
registered under this ordinance.
4. Product safety and pure food ordinance, 1959:

In section 41 of the pure food ordinance states the provisions of the

establishment of a pure food court with the officers vested with the power
of a magistrate in every district and metropolitan level.
Safety measures taken under this law for different types of products are
given below:
1) Prohibition of manufacture or sale of food not of proper nature,
substance or quality.
2) Prohibition of manufacture or sale of food not of proper standard of
purity.
3) Prohibition of sale or use of poisonous or dangerous chemicals,
intoxicated food colour, etc.
4) Standard of purity of milk and milk products.
5) Standard of purity of ghee.
6) Standard of purity of butter.
7) Standard of purity of wheat flour.
8) Standard of purity of any other article of food.
9) Prohibition of manufacture or sale anything similar to or resembling an
article of food.
10) Prohibition of sale of deceased animals.
11) Prohibition of use of false labels.
12) Registration of certain premises.