The “Production, Storage, Transfer, Transportation, Supply, Distribution and Marketing of Food Products (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Bill, 2023” with a provision of maximum lifetime imprisonment for illegal hoarding of food stuff was placed in Parliament on Thursday.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder placed the bill, which was sent to the respective parliamentary committee for further scrutiny.

The committee was asked to submit its reports within five days.

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The aim of the new bill is to curb illegal hoarding of food items and ensure food security.

In the proposed law, the punishment for illegal hoarding of food is maximum lifetime imprisonment or 14-year rigorous imprisonment and monetary punishment.

In the bill, mainly offences related to the production, storage, transfer, transportation, supply, marketing and distribution of food grains like paddy, rice, wheat, flour and corn have been identified. Punishments have been prescribed for those offences as per the magnitude of the crimes.

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The new law has been framed in the combination of two old laws-- the Food (Special Court) Act, 1956 and the Food grains Supply (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Ordinance, 1979.

As per the new law, a person will face maximum two-year imprisonment or maximum Tk 10 lakh as fine or both, if the person markets any foodstuff manufactured from an approved variety of food grain under a different or fictitious name without mentioning it as a by-product of such variety.

A person will face the same punishment in case of manufacturing or marketing food products by removing or altering any natural ingredient in whole or partially; or manufacturing or marketing artificial ingredients harmful to human health with foodstuffs.

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According to the bill, if any person makes, prints, publishes, circulates or distributes any false information regarding the production, storage, transfer, transportation, supply, distribution and marketing of foodstuff, the person will face the maximum five-year imprisonment or highest Tk 10-lakh as fine or both.

Earlier on April 10 last, the cabinet cleared the draft of the new law.