Denmark-Bangladesh unite to boost food safety standards in Bangladesh

Through the signing of a new project, Denmark and Bangladesh have further strengthened cooperation on food and agriculture to support safe and sustainable food production in Bangladesh.

This latest project will address the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance and misuse of antibiotics in food production.

On Wednesday, 20 November, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Danish Embassy signed this three-year Strategic Sector Cooperation Project on behalf of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

18-24 November is also Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week. One challenge that creates AMR is the misuse of antibiotics in food production.

The number of AMR deaths in Bangladesh is higher than deaths from chronic respiratory, diabetes, and kidney diseases.

Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E. Mr Christian Brix Møller, said, "Antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health threats and a major challenge in Bangladesh. Denmark is honoured to partner with Bangladesh to work towards high-standard food production for the population."'

Mr S. M. Ferdous Alam, Director General of BSTI, also said, "This initiative will strengthen the relationship between Bangladesh and Denmark. Such collaboration will be fruitful as Denmark is pioneering best practices in this work area. The involvement of DVFA will also enhance our knowledge and capabilities and improve the dairy production efficiency in Bangladesh. Moreover, it will ensure better nutrition from a novel food source and ultimately contribute to the economy. We also believe that, under this project, all relevant regulators will have the opportunity to work together for the national interest, advancing a One Health approach."

This week, an expert delegation from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration will also hold discussions with the partners of this project, including Bangladesh Government with Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Directorate General Drug Administration (DGDA) on how to ensure and promote a more prudent use of antibiotics to reduce and avoid AMR in Bangladesh.

These exchanges will align with the theme of World AMR Awareness Week 2024: "Educate. Advocate. Act now."