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Barua slams BSTI for delaying tests on Pran

Star Business Report
The industries minister and secretary came down heavily on Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution yesterday for a delay in running tests on Pran's turmeric powder.
The US authorities have detected high levels of lead in Pran's turmeric powder, prompting recalls by stores that purchased the product to sell to consumers there.
“No organisation has the right to sell any adulterated food," said Industries Minister Dilip Barua. "No matter how big a company it is."
The government would not compromise on product standards. "In this regard, our stance is zero tolerance."
"We will take legal action if a BSTI official is involved in any wrongdoing,” said Barua, also the chairman of BSTI Council, the highest decision making organ of the institution.
"You (BSTI) cannot keep it pending. You have to immediately disclose the test results on whether the study finds excessive amounts of lead in the turmeric powder or not, as people are concerned about it," said Industries
Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah.
"Don't give any unjust opportunity by merely wasting time," he said at a discussion marking the 44th World Standards Day organised by BSTI at its office in Dhaka.
Their comments came at a time when the media is blaming the government for moving slow on the issue.
Since October 3, Food and Drug Administration, the New York State Health Department and private laboratory, posted several press releases on its website on the detection of high levels of lead in the Pran product and subsequent recalls by four US stores in New York, Dallas and Detroit.
Multiple tests run in the US have found high levels of lead, ranging from 28ppm to 53ppm, in Pran's turmeric powder, with the permissible limit being 2.5ppm in Bangladesh. The permissible limit in the US could not be known.
The limit may vary from country to country but it cannot exceed 2.5ppm in any country, according to a top BSTI official.
"We have already taken samples from the
local market to test Pran's turmeric powder," said Md Akhtaruzzaman, director (Chemical Testing) of BSTI. However, he did not give a specific date on when the test results would be published.
Despite many weakness and failures, BSTI is marching ahead, said Abdullah, adding that this institute has to improve its service quality as people are now more conscious about standards.
"You (BSTI official) cannot sit idle in the office. You have to perform your job efficiently for your own existence."
Barua also directed BSTI officials to strengthen vigilance on petrol pumps across the country so that they cannot deceive customers with adulterated oil and malpractices in weight.
Maintaining standards and quality is a prerequisite to entering the international markets, said BSTI Director General Iqramul Haque. “So we want to improve our service quality to meet international standards."
BSTI has so far set the standards for around 3,500 products, he added.