Dhaka: A revised draft on the proposed Food Safety Law has prescribed death penalty for adulteration as policymakers and consumers felt the previously suggested 14 years jail term is inadequate.

"We are now exposed to extreme risks of health hazards mostly due to adulteration in food, many people are suffering from cancer . . . a tough law to prevent adulteration appeared very crucial," Food Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque told an opinion exchange meeting on the proposed Food Safety Law at CIRDAP auditorium.

He added that the greatest challenge for the country was now to ensure food safety alongside balanced food while it achieved high success in terms of food production.

"We expect the Food Safety Act to be passed in parliament in June this year," he said.

Officials said a revised version of the proposed food safety law now suggested the capital punishment for adulteration causing loss of public life while the previous draft prescribed the highest 14 years of imprisonment.

The draft suggested the death penalty or 14 years of imprisonment alongside Taka 20 lakh fine if someone was found repeating identical offence for the second time endangering public life just for profiteering.

Use of harmful chemicals like formalin, calcium carbide, sodium cyclamate or heavy metals and pesticides or any poisonous substances in food will be generally considered as adulteration to be treated with tough legal actions.

The food ministry earlier this year recommend introduction of tougher punitive actions against adulteration in food as the existing provision of three years imprisonment and Taka 50,000 fine appeared inadequate to check the impurity.

"We are recommending tougher punitive measures introducing jail terms ranging between seven to 10 years of imprisonment for adulteration in food," Razzaque at that time said while the enhanced punitive actions were suggested amid an intensified food safety campaign.

The draft law also recommended constitution of a separate Food Safety and Quality Control Authority like Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI).

As per the decision of the government, the food ministry was asked to present a complete law on pure food amending the Pure Food Ordinance of 1959 and the revised act on pure food in 2005.

With the food minister in chair, the workshop was also attended, among others, by member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food Ministry Atiqur Rahman Atique, Food Secretary Musfika Ikfat, high officials from different ministries, representatives of different private sector food manufacturing companies and of different foreign agencies.

Ends/AMA/18/04/13