The Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Bill, 2020 was passed in Parliament on Monday, aiming to ensure harsher punishment for marketing and exporting fish or fish products with harmful chemicals. Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim moved the Bill in the House which was passed by voice vote. The punishment for violation of the law is maximum five years imprisonment, Tk 5 lakh fine or both. According to the existing Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Ordinance, 1983, the maximum punishment is six months’ imprisonment, Tk 5,000 fine or both. The Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Bill has been framed for the protection and expansion of the export market of Bangladeshi fish and fish products, and for supplying quality ones to the local markets. Without having license, no-one can export fish and fish products, set up or run a factory or any establishment in this regard as per the proposed law. As per the bill, licenses can be revoked on different grounds, including violation of conditions mentioned in the license, providing false information or concealing information, failure of renewing license for three consecutive years, and handing over and selling the license. If the inspection officer finds unhygienic environment in factories or establishment or sub-standard quality of processing during inspection, the administrative penalty would be maximum Tk 5 lakh fine. Also read: Parliament passes Marine Fisheries Bill