The manufacturer has to confirm six informations when selling packaged products. The product has to be sold in that package with the prescribed clearance from the regulatory body BSTI.
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) is a government agency under the Ministry of Industries constituted for the purpose of controlling the standard of service and quality of the goods. Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution was established in 1971 after the liberation war as a National Standards body of the country. In 1974, the institution so formed has become member of the International Organization for Standardization. The institution comes into being through an Ordinance with the merger of Bangladesh Standards Institution and the Central Testing Laboratories in 1985. The institution playing an important role in developing and promoting industrial standardization al over the country. BSTI is headed by a Director General. In 1995 Department of Agricultural Grading and Marking marred with BSTI.
BSTI is giving the opportunity to use the 'B' mark in the wrapper if the six pieces of information are recorded properly. By looking at this mark the consumer can be sure about the accuracy of the information written on the product packet. BSTI Chittagong Director. Selim Reza said the ‘B’ mark is a mark of product packaging license. By this the packaging means approved by BSTI. In order to use the ‘B’ mark, six instructions of the wrapper have to be followed properly.
He said the packaging law has been in place for some time. We are trying to implement it. According to the law, the packaging should include the date of manufacture of the product, expiry date, name and quantity of the material used, name and address of the organization. If it is an imported product, it must have the name and address of the importer. This information must be in Bengali. BSTI has been in the field of implementing the Weight Measurement and Wrapping Act since last year. Registration of the packaging of each product has been made mandatory.
Many institutions have taken leveling clearance. Some institutions are waiting for clearance. There are six main things to be sure when registering a package. Write the date of manufacture of the product, expiry date, name and quantity of the material used, name and address of the organization. This information must be written in Bengali. However, besides Bengali, other languages can also be used. It has been made mandatory to write the name and address of the importer in case of importing and selling foreign goods. This information should be clearly included in the product package so that the buyer gets the correct information about the product. If all the rules are followed as per the law, BSTI gives permission to use 'B' mark on the packaging of the product. The ‘B’ sign gives the consumer a clear idea about the product.
BSTI Chittagong Inspector, Mamunur Rahman said, the packaging license has to be taken in accordance with the product packaging law. ‘B’ mark means obtaining a packaging license. If you see this mark, you will understand that the product packaging is licensed. The mark implies that the six product instructions have been properly followed.
He said that according to the law, what elements are in the wrapper should be written in Bengali. Must have product production date, expiration date, material description, organization name and address. Product leveling has to be done with clearance from BSTI. Six turns marked with a ‘B’ mark confirm the six information. This mark will indicate the accuracy of the product packaging information. It is learned that the Weights and Measures and Wrapping Act was passed in 2006.
However, there was no provision in the law for wrapping or leveling fines. The same law was amended in 2012. Even then no fines were imposed for wrapping. In 2016, the fine was included in the Weights and Measures Act. Failure to wrap the packaged product is punishable by a fine of Rs one lakh and imprisonment for ten years. Since then, BSTI has been in the field. The company imposed a clearance for packaging of packaged products.
