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The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has implemented a new directive, making the digital reporting of fortification and quality-control data compulsory for all edible oil refineries operating in the country. This mandate is part of BSTI's updated licensing conditions, aiming to enhance transparency and oversight in the industry.
This new requirement was formally introduced at the 'DFQT+ System User Engagement Workshop', an event organised in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). The workshop took place on August 19 at Aloki in Tejgaon, Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the organisations.
Under specific provisions, namely Clauses 1 and 7 of BSTI's revised licensing framework, edible oil refineries are now obligated to submit real-time data pertaining to fortification and quality tracking. This information must be entered directly into the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform.
The initiative is a key component of a larger project titled 'Digitisation of Fortification of Edible Oil for Improved Monitoring, Quality Control and Capacity Building'. Its overarching goals are to ensure the effective fortification of edible oil with vitamin A, improve overall quality control measures, and establish robust supply-chain traceability for all edible oil distributed throughout Bangladesh.
The workshop saw the participation of high-ranking officials, with BSTI Director General (Secretary) Kazi Emdadul Hoque attending as the chief guest. Special guests included Sultan Alam, Joint Secretary (Planning) at the Ministry of Industries and Project Director, and Md Zakir Hossain, Joint Secretary (Administration) and Deputy Project Director. Md Alauddin Hossain, BSTI Director (CM, Additional Charge), chaired the proceedings.
Operational representatives from 16 edible oil refineries participated in the engagement, where they exchanged views with officials from BSTI and the Ministry of Industries. Discussions focused on practical aspects such as field-level implementation, operational guidelines, and system workflows for the new digital platform.
The participating refineries expressed a strong commitment to upholding stringent quality control standards, ensuring the supply of safe edible oil fortified with vitamin A to consumers, and diligently submitting all required data through BSTI's designated digital platform. Many noted the importance of large-scale edible oil fortification, which has consistently played a crucial role in combating micronutrient deficiencies in Bangladesh, in alignment with national legislation enacted in 2013.
The DFQT+ platform is specifically designed to transform the traditional fortification monitoring process into a transparent, data-driven, and verifiable digital system. Technical experts from BSTI and GAIN conducted a dedicated session during the workshop, offering practical guidance on operating the platform and adhering to its reporting protocols. During an open discussion, several refinery representatives confirmed their active use of the DFQT+ system for regular data submission, describing its reporting process as both simple and efficient.
Source: The Business Standard