No standard testing for imported agri items
Chittagong port department only conducts quarantine tests
The imported agri items like food grains, spices and fruits are released from Chittagong port without any standard testing to see if they are fit for human consumption or not.
Absence of such testing deprives the people of quality food and the government of revenue.
Chittagong port releases the items only after quarantine tests conducted by its Quarantine Department run under Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Contrary to the general belief, the department only conducts quarantine test, not standard testing, said the sources.
According to sources, DAE has 13 centres across the country to conduct quarantine test of around 250 types of agro items, particularly rice, wheat, pulse, spices and fresh or dried fruits after import or before export.
Most of the import or export of these agro items are made through Chittagong port.
Samples of the imported items are collected from containers or hedges of vessels at the outer-anchorage area for quarantine test.
After obtaining quarantine clearance, the items get customs clearance for release from the port without any standard testing.
"In many occasions such imported agro items are found worm-eaten or not fit for human consumption. But, we have nothing to do with this since the responsibility of testing standard is supposed to lie with Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI), department of health or radiation department," said Entomologist Md Belayet Hossain Khan of Chittagong Port Quarantine Department.
He said they are to conduct test and issue quarantine clearance certificates following specific set of rules. Belayet said the quarantine test is done only to prevent entry of food grains or agro items carrying worms or insects, which are alien to us and feared to attack and damage plants in the country.
He was talking to this correspondent at his office on Sunday.
BSTI conducts tests and give clearance to 16 food products like milk powder, biscuits, jam, jelly, soya bean, sugar, vegetable juice, pineapple juice, chips, honey, tomato ketchup, noodles and soft drinks, sources at BSTI said.
BSTI cannot go for standard testing of the food grains tested by Quarantine Department, they said.
BSTI Deputy Director SM Ishaq said standard testing should be done for all food or agro items since quarantine tests do not check entry of rotten or substandard food grains that may pose health hazard.
He said a three-year import policy is likely to be declared soon and it is up to the government to make mandatory of standard testing for such items if they are of standard quality or unfit for consumption. "As far I know standard testing of imported food grains is yet to be included in the policy", he added.
Meanwhile, Quarantine Department is also struggling hard to keep pace with the outside world in quarantine tests.
Though there is a remarkable change in packaging, preservation, handling and transportation systems of such items, the department conducts tests following a set of rules amended in 1989.
Export and importers alleged that backdated and time consuming quarantine testgs delay export or import process and cause suffering to them.
Belayet said lack of required equipment and materials as well as technicians hampers issuance of correct clearance in time.
"In most of the cases the field level DAE officials are deployed in Quarantine Department and are transferred when they just start growing experienced," he said.
"So, the department could not be developed as a full-fledged one equipped with experienced and skilled manpower," he said.
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