Safe food authority must in 3 months:Daily Star

The High Court yesterday directed the government to form a decision-making authority and a council in three months to implement Nirapad Khadya Ain (Safe Food Act) 2013.  On complying with the order, the government has to submit a report to it within the period, said Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan responding to a writ petition. A further order will be delivered on the
matter on March 1, the HC bench said. The law provides for a five-member safe food authority, “Bangladesh Nirapad Khadya Kortripokkho”, to take decisions and actions needed to stop food adulteration, petitioner's counsel Syed Mohidul Kabir told The Daily Star.  The government has also been ordered to form a 28-member national safe food management advisory council titled “Jatiya Nirapad Khadya Byabasthapona Upadeshta Parishad” in accordance with the law to coordinate actions and decisions of the safe food authority and make necessary recommendations. As per the law, a government official having experience in food analysis should be appointed as chairman of the safe food authority, and the food minister should head the advisory council, Kabir said. Deputy Attorney General Al Amin Sarker said the government yesterday submitted a report to the HC, saying that it had already taken steps to form the relevant authority and advisory council to enforce the Safe Food Act 2013. Advertisement Accepting the report, the HC granted an appeal for three months to implement the law through formation of the authority and advisory council, he added. Legal Action Bangladesh Foundation, a rights organisation, filed the writ petition on May 21 seeking directives on the government to take necessary steps to ensure safe food for the citizens of the country. The petitioner said parliament passed a bill on the act last year to stop widespread food adulteration by setting up courts to dispose of cases linked with food-related crimes. The government has not yet issued a gazette notification in this regard and so the act is yet to come into effect, the petition says.  The law has a provision for five years' jail and a fine of Tk 10 lakh as maximum punishment for committing food-related offences.