E-mail:
Country:
Bangladesh
Organization/agency name (Full name):
University of Dhaka
Contact person name:
Prof. Dr. M. Imdadul Hoque
Website:
Physical full address:
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Phone number:
+88-02-9673387
Fax number:
+88-02-9667222
Country introduction
Summary:
Bangladesh is the party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to CBD. The country has the Biosafety Guidelines in place from 2008 and Biosafety Rules has been enacted in 2012. A guidelines for the safety assessment of foods derived from genetically engineered (GE)plants has also devleoped to assess the safety concerns of foods derived from genetically engineered plants. Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI) is given the responsibility to carry out food safety assessment issues related with GM food. The Institute has already adopted the Food safety Assessment Guidelines as their Standard.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country is in the process in developing a structure for GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Although Bangladesh has developed the Guidelines for the safety assessment of foods derived from GE crops following CODEX guidelines, but has not yet formed any commitee who may assess the safety of GE crops derived foods. Recently Bangladesh Regulatory Authority has taken initiative to update the Biosafety Guidelines of Bangladesh, Biosafety Rules, etc. where the structure of the GE Food Safety Committe is expected to be included.
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country has never conducted food safety assessment of GM food but is planning to conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
The Bangladesh National Parliament passed the Food Safety Act, 2013 in order to make provisions for the establishment of an efficient, effective, scientifically based Authority for regulating the activities relating to food production, import, processing, stockpiling, supplying, marketing and sales as well as to ensure the people’s right toward access to safe food through appropriate application of scientific processes. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) was established in 2015 with a vision of “Safe food for all to protect life and health”. The mission of BFSA is to protect consumers’ lives and health by monitoring the safety of the food supply chain and coordinating the work of the many official food controlling agencies including food business operators and people of the country to ensure the effective and uniform enforcement of food regulations in Bangladesh.
Under the Section 17 of the Food Safety Act formed 8 Technical Committees of which Committee 2(C) is entitlted "Technical Committee on Genetically Modified Organisms and Foods". This committee has started their function and the first meeting of this committee was held on March 10, 2022. I am happy to disclose that BFSA has appointed as the Chair of this Technical Committee.
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
In my country, GM food/feed that contains stacked event(s) is considered as a new product even if all single events that are stacked have already approved.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed for commercial and research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
Bangladesh has approved limited commercial release of four varieties of fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt-brinjal in 2013. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), developer of this GE product has also applied for the environmental release three more Bt-brinjal which is under biosafety review by the Biosafety Regulatory Authority.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has also applied for the environmental release of Golden rice. This application is also under review by the Biosafety Regulatory Authority of Bangladesh.
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
I do not know if my country has faced any LLP/AP issues in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
07/05/2022
