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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh has put on hold some conditions again to facilitate the import of milk food products like baby milk, officials said.
Importers can bring in all types of milk products without mentioning composition and percentages of various ingredients in Bangla on each tin container, box and airtight package.
Besides, dates of manufacturing and expiry of milk food will not be embossed or computer-printed in permanent ink either in Bangla or English on each package during import.
Earlier, commerce ministry shelved conditions that all kinds of milk items can be imported without printing that there was no alternative to breastfeeding on each tin, package, bag or box.
But importers must print a sentence 'There is no alternative to breastfeeding' in relatively larger letters in Bangla in a visible space on each packet or tin during marketing.
While marketing the items locally, they must print or emboss in Bangla about composition and percentages of ingredients and dates of production and expiry (for human consumption) of milk food.
But the importers concerned must follow other existing conditions for importing such milk food products and baby food.
They have to maintain standards of milk food goods set by the government.
Only the members of Bangladesh Foodstuff Importers and Suppliers Association (BAFISA) will be able to enjoy the new import facility.
On May 06, the ministry asked the office of the chief controller of imports and exports to issue an order to this effect, a source said.
When contacted, a deputy secretary of the ministry said, "From now on, importers will be able to import or release milk food with cream, including baby milk, without printing that there is no alternative to breastfeeding."
"Composition and percentages of various ingredients and dates of manufacturing and expiry on each tin, airtight package or bag and box of baby food with cream are not needed by the exporting country."
Many baby item exporters have been facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak. For this, importers cannot import baby food items from those countries, the official explained.
The decision was made in order to import food goods from alternative destinations, he added.
According to section 16 (subsection 17) of the Import Policy Order 2015-2018, "The words 'There is no alternative to breastfeeding' shall be printed clearly in relatively larger letters in Bangla in a visible space on each tin, airtight package or bag in box of baby food with cream."
"Composition and percentages of various ingredients shall be printed in Bangla on the tin containers, airtight packages or bag inbox of milk food," according to subsection (E) of the policy.
Subsection (F) says: "The date of manufacturing and expiry (for human consumption) of milk food shall be embossed or computer-printed in permanent ink either in Bangla or in English on each airtight package with tin container or bag in box."