Export of food-grade recycled plastic goods to come under scrutiny

Export of recycled food-grade plastic products is set to come under mandatory audit as the European Union (EU) has sought lists of competent authorities from Bangladesh in this regard.

The competent authorities will audit the recycling companies that wish to export plastic products to the EU.

Recyclers would "not be able to export their products to the EU" without going through the audit, the EU said in a letter forwarded to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh.

The EPB is now working on identifying such competent authorities having the capacity to carry out necessary tests of recycled food-grade plastic products in line with the EU standards, officials said.

"Our main intention is to create an inventory of competent authorities responsible for recycled plastic food-contact materials," said the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Food Safety.

Bangladesh annually exports plastic and plastic products worth over $200 million.

Md. Jashim Uddin, vice chairman of Bengal Group of Industries - a leading plastic goods exporter, told the FE Sunday that Bangladesh exports plastic products to a number of countries and earns a significant amount of foreign currency.

Many companies also export food-grade plastic products, including PET bottles and different kinds of foodstuff carriers, to different countries, including the EU member states, he added.

He said the laboratory of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), SGS Bangladesh, and some other labs, designated by the buyers, presently test Bangladeshi plastic products before they are shipped.

If necessary, sometimes the required tests are being carried out from abroad, said Mr Jashim, a former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).

syful-islam@outlook.com