Bangladesh has sought technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to set up food-testing laboratories in all 64 districts, as the government moves to strengthen food safety and curb adulteration.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration Ismail Zabihullah made the request during a meeting with a six-member JICA delegation at his office on Thursday.

The delegation was led by Takahashi Junko, chief representative of JICA's Bangladesh office.

The two sides discussed public health protection, ensuring safe food for all citizens, preventing food adulteration, tackling foodborne diseases, strengthening the food safety administration, and expanding technical capacity-building.

Zabihullah said the government is working, in line with the BNP's election manifesto, to ensure safe food nationwide and stop the production, supply and marketing of substandard and adulterated food products.

He said steps have been taken to strengthen the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and other relevant agencies by recruiting adequate manpower, intensifying field-level monitoring and enforcing food safety laws strictly.

Measures are also underway to raise consumer awareness, the adviser added.

Seeking JICA's technical assistance for the district-level labs, he said Bangladesh must comply properly with food safety rules and regulations in line with international standards to improve the acceptability and competitiveness of its food products in global markets.

Takahashi Junko recommended streamlining the existing food safety laws and regulations to make the country's food safety system more effective and coherent.

She stressed building an integrated legal framework for food safety, along with a single licensing system for all food businesses.

Takahashi Junko said JICA is setting up three international-standard laboratories in the Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna divisions to strengthen Bangladesh's food safety system.

An effective food safety system requires specialised technical expertise, internationally accredited laboratories, and a nationwide mechanism for sample collection and inspection, she said.

The JICA official also recommended increasing the number of food safety inspectors at the district level to ensure science- and risk-based monitoring of food businesses, provide necessary technical guidance, and strengthen regular sample collection and testing.

She also expressed interest in providing technical training to food safety inspectors.