BSTI logo on weights mandatory
Committee formed to amend law
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) yesterday made its logo mandatory on weighting machines and scales to ensure consumers rights.
The decision came at a council meeting of BSTI at its central office with Industries Minister Dilip Barua was in the chair, says a press release.
The meeting gave an approval in principal for expenditure to run the mobile courts against adulteration.
A 10-member committee led by additional secretary of the industry ministry was also formed at the meeting to amend the existing BSTI act to upgrade its standards.
They were asked to submit the report within three months.
Dilip Barua said that the necessary reformations would be brought out to speed up the activities of BSTI.
He also directed the officials to maintain proper standard of the imported goods with the country's goods.
BSS adds: Industries Minister Dilip Barua underscored the need for carrying out reforms in BSTI.
Industries Secretary KH Masud Siddique, BSTI Director General AK Fazlul Ahad, Vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Jalal Ahmed and Chairman of Bangladesh Council of Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) Prof Dr SM Imamul Haque addressed the meeting, among others.
The industries minister said BSTI has an important role to play in issuing certificates and monitoring the quality of foods and manufactured products as all these have a link to export diversification.
He said the use of weighing machine with BSTI logo would be made mandatory to maintain accurate measures of goods, and the system will be launched across the country in phases.
Barua, also chairman of the council, said from now on budget of the institution would be placed before the council, which will help reduce misuse of funds.
Echoing the minister, Masud Siddique said more transparency and accountability has to be ensured in overall activities of the watchdog agency.
Prof Huq said introduction of digital weighing machine is a must considering the interest of consumers since Bangladesh is the lone country where consumers get 900 grams of goods out of one kilogram while it is 1000 grams all over the world.
Citing the budget of a BSTI project, Jalal said sometimes its budget does not match the expenditure, which should be addressed.
Ahad laid emphasis on a wide range of consultations with traders at field level before introducing and marketing digital weighing machines.
He pointed out that traders are reluctant to replace the existing machines with digital ones (made of risk-free stainless steel).
Issuance of new license for packet goods, increasing testing fees and maintaining standards of Thai aluminum, which is widely used as construction materials, also came up for discussion during the meeting.
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