The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has ordered the immediate withdrawal of eight product variants of four companies from the market after laboratory tests found they failed to meet required standards.
The national standards and quality control agency said the products were found to contain excessive preservatives, harmful microorganisms or other deviations from prescribed quality standards.
According to a BSTI press release issued on Monday, Fresh Garden Agro Resources’ mango pickle (Batch No. FGMP200G0426) was found to contain preservatives beyond the permissible limit.
A Bellisimo branded Rotondo Hazelnut Coated Chocolate ice cream (Batch No. 26050101A), manufactured by Kazi Food Industries Ltd, was found to have total milk solid non-fat content exceeding the level specified under the Bangladesh Standard.
BSTI also detected harmful microorganisms in several cosmetic products manufactured by Olive Bangladesh Ltd. These include Labonno Milk Skin Lotion (Batch No. 2961104A), Labonno Aloe Vera Skin Lotion (Batch No. 2961204A), Olive and Labonno Facewash Moringa+Matcha Foaming Milk (Batch No. 2951404A), Olive and Labonno Facewash Tulsi (Batch No. 2951204A), and Labonno Aloe Vera Shampoo (Batch No. 2921304A).
In addition, Deco Foods Ltd’s Deco Fruit Funda Mango and Orange flavoured soft drink powders (Batch No. 133) were found to contain less Vitamin C than required under the Bangladesh standard.
BSTI said rejection notices have already been issued to the companies concerned and it instructed them to suspend the production, sale and distribution of the products until their licences are renewed or reapproved.
The regulator also directed the companies to immediately withdraw the affected products from distributors, dealers, retailers and markets across the country in the interest of public health and consumer protection.
BSTI said it will closely monitor implementation of the directive and warned that strict legal action will be taken against any company failing to comply with the order.
The agency said maintaining product quality in line with national standards is both a legal and moral obligation for all licensed manufacturers and pledged to take administrative and legal action against any company failing to fulfil that responsibility.
BSTI Director General Kazi Emdadul Hoque said the organisation remains committed to ensuring consumers have access to quality products, describing quality products as a consumer right.
He also advised consumers to check the BSTI certification mark, licence number, manufacturing date, expiry date and other relevant information before purchasing products.
Emdadul urged the public to promptly report any complaints related to product quality, adulteration, fraud or misuse of the BSTI certification mark.
