Formalin control bill passed

Parliament yesterday passed the Formalin Control Bill, 2015 keeping a provision of maximum life term imprisonment and Tk 20 lakh fine for culprits behind formalin in food.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed piloted the bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote.

The long-sought bill did not propose banning formalin rather suggested tougher punishment for regulating its production, import, transport, stock, sale and use without licence.

The law has a provision of maximum seven years' imprisonment, but not less than three years or Tk five lakh fine, but not less than Tk two lakh or both in case of violation of terms of formalin licence.

For the sale or use of formalin without licence, the bill proposed provision of awarding maximum two years' imprisonment or Tk four lakh fine or both.

It also kept a provision of maximum two years' imprisonment or Tk two lakh fine for possessing equipment of formalin productions or allowing the use of house or land or machinery without licence.

For transporting formalin or possessing it without having licence, the bill says, the punishment would be two years' imprisonment or Tk three lakh fine or both.

The punishment for filing false cases or harassing anyone would be one year's imprisonment or Tk two lakh fine or both. If any convicted person gets involved in such crimes again, the punishment will double.

In the objective of the bill, it was stated that formalin is a life-threatening chemical and it is necessary to formulate a law to control its misuse.

Tofail placed the bill in the House on January 21. It was then sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny. The committee submitted its report on February 2.

By formulating this law, formalin use and businesses will come under a framework and transparency and accountability of marketing this item will be ensured, the objective of the bill said.

"As a result people will be benefited," it added.