Bangladesh to Adopt US Standards for Dairy and Biotech Imports
Bangladesh has entered into a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States, signed on February 9, which significantly eases the entry of American dairy, meat, and agricultural biotechnology products into its market. Under this agreement, Bangladesh will recognize the US dairy-safety system as equivalent to its own, allowing imports of American dairy products, such as those from cattle, sheep, and goats, with a certificate from the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
The agreement stipulates that Bangladesh will not impose additional product or facility registration requirements on American meat and poultry. It will accept oversight by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for American production facilities, thus simplifying the process for US producers.
Significantly, the agreement allows the import and marketing of American agricultural biotechnology products that have been legally approved in the US without requiring additional pre-market review, labeling, or local approval in Bangladesh. This aspect of the agreement has raised concerns among local producers and advisers about the potential impact on domestic industries.
Mohammad Shah Emran, from the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers’ Association, expressed concerns that the influx of foreign dairy products could undermine local production, urging the government to provide incentives and infrastructure support for domestic farmers. Meanwhile, Tanvir Ahmed of Sheltech Group highlighted opportunities for improving meat production through American technologies.
Farida Akhter, a Fisheries and Livestock Adviser, emphasized the contentious issue of the lack of labeling requirements for genetically modified products, which could impact consumer awareness and decision-making.
The agreement also outlines that within 24 months, Bangladesh must develop a policy to facilitate the import of US-approved agricultural biotechnology products, effectively adopting American regulatory standards.
