Import Policy Order 2015-2018.

This Import Policy Order 2015-2018, consisting of nine Chapters and completed by two Appendixes, have been developed in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 (1) of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 (Act No. XXXIX of 1950). It is a national policy order which shall apply to import all kinds of goods into Bangladesh.
Test of radioactivity levels is mandatory for imported milk, dairy, edible oil, vegetable seeds and cereal products which may be used as food for human consumpation. A certification should also be submitted to the customs authorities. In case of import of milk and milk products, a certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country mentioning that these products are free form Added Melamine, the cows from which the milk originates have not been given Estrogenic Hormones and Hormone growth promotants (HGPs) treatment and the existence of the level of heavy metal are in accordance with Codex Standards, must be submitted to the customs authority by the importer. Additional terms and conditions to be applicable for the import of fish feed, poultry feed and animal feed goods include, inter alia, 1) the shipping documents must be accompanied by radioactivity-test reports from the competent authority of the exporting country and a certificate to the effect that the goods are fit for consumption by fish, poultry or livestock; 2) the imported fish feed must be free from harmful medicines, hormone and steroid including chloromphenicol and Nitrofuran; 3) In case of import of poultry feed and animal feed ingredients are to be inscribed on its packet and a certificate issued by competent authority of the exporting country to the effect that such feed goods are free from Chloromphenicol, Nitrofuran, Antibiotics, Melamine and Genetically Modified Organism is to be submitted. Tests for chloromphenicol, Nitrofuran and Melamine shall be conducted in the government approved laboratories just after arrival of these products at the port; 4) meat and bone meal, fish meal and protein concentrate can be imported with the prior permission from the competent authorities, and importers shall submit the following certificates: a ) the imported goods are free from harmful Antibiotics, including Chloromphenicol & Nitrofuran; b) the imported goods must be free from harmful chromium, by-product of tannery and melamine. Rice seeds shall be importable subject to the conditions prescribed in the Policy Order, including: (a) the importer shall submit a quarantine certificate furnished by the original supplier and a phytosanitary certificate, along with export documents from the Government agency of the seed exporting country; (b) in case of import of hybrid rice seeds, there shall be in the phytosanitary certificate that the seed is purified with hot water treatment and with approved pesticides; ( c) a quarantine certificate shall also be obtained from the Plant Protection Authority before clearing imported rice seeds, from the Customs Authority; and ( d) an import permit issued by the Plant Protection Authority for importing rice seed should be submitte. Importablity of pesticides shall be determined in accordance with the Pesticides Ordinance, 1971. Furthermore, Appendix-1 lists the controlled goods which are the goods banned for import, including a number of chemical insecticides and industrial chemicals under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, such as DDT, polychlorinated biphenyl.
In addition, country of origin must be mentioned on all products, product packaging or containers. However for importing coal, cotton, aluminum raw materials and export-oriented garment and industrial raw materials, country of origin is not required. According to the policy, ocean-going ships, oil tankers and fishing trawlers, cannot be imported if it is 25 year’s old.