Mandatory radioactivity test for imported food to go

The government is set to remove the mandatory radioactivity test requirement for imported human and animal food to ease trade and ensure the supply of such items across the country, sources said.

The test is currently mandatory under the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control Rules of 1997.

A meeting held on January 26 with Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin in the chair decided to amend the rules to this end.

Most of the countries, including the US, those in the European Union, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and India, have removed the obligation to conduct radioactive tests for imported food products, importers said.

They claimed almost all countries implemented radioactivity testing regulations after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, but subsequently found no presence of that in imported foods. Some countries have also relaxed the radioactivity testing regulations already.

Due to the obligation in Bangladesh's existing import policy order, no clearance for the release of imported food is issued without radioactivity testing, according to a commerce ministry document.

This increases the cost of importing products, wastes time, creates various business complexities, and reduces the assurance of timely supply of food, read the document.

It also mentioned that disruptions to the timely clearance of industrial raw material imports may lead to the shutdown of factories, which in turn will affect the economy. As different countries have cancelled the radioactivity test requirement, Bangladeshi businessmen have long been requesting the authorities concerned to follow suit.

When contacted, a senior official said, "We have already sent a decision to the science and technology ministry to make the necessary amendments to the 1997 rules."

An official said, "We have received a letter and are working on it."

The commerce ministry will be able to modify the paragraphs concerning the radioactivity test of imported food products in the existing Import Policy Order 2021-2024 after the 1997 rules is amended.

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission sources said no radiation has been detected in the imported food products over the years, but the test continues.

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