Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has made registration and licensing mandatory for specified categories of food businesses and food products, with the requirement taking effect from November 1, in a move to protect public health and bring discipline to the sector.
In a press release issued Wednesday, the government issued a gazette on the BFSA said the Safe Food (Registration and Licence) Regulations, 2026 on July 16.
It has now asked all food traders and establishments concerned to apply for the required registration and licences from November 1, 2026.
Under the Safe Food Act, 2013 and the new regulations, four categories of food businesses must obtain a business licence, a premises licence, a licence for manufactured and imported products, and registration of licensed products.
Separately, the rules require registration for 16 specified categories of food businesses and food establishments.
From roadside mobile or temporary food stalls and small restaurants to importers and large food processors, all individuals and organisations involved in food business will now have to be registered with the BFSA.
The schedule of the regulations divides food businesses broadly into two groups. Registration alone will be sufficient for the 16 conventional categories of food business, while those dealing with special or "superfood" products will need licences.
Restaurants, bakeries, fruit juice shops, pastry shops and catering service providers must register with the authority. Manufacturers of packaged food, sweetmeat shops, dairy product makers and importers (excluding raw and fresh food) must also register.
Even those selling homemade items such as pitha, puri and piaju by the roadside will come under the new rules.
Registration is also mandatory for wholesale grocery businesses, imports of raw and fresh food, food warehouses and cold storages, and production of edible oil and edible salt.
It also covers the production, processing, storage, import, export and marketing of specialised foods, including fortified foods, health supplements, special dietary and medical foods, probiotic and prebiotic foods, organic foods, irradiated foods, genetically modified foods, novel foods, functional foods, multi-stage processed foods and food additives.
On the other hand, four types of persons or entities dealing with specialised food products, such as infant formula and special foods made for the elderly or people with specific diseases, will be brought under mandatory licensing.
These include the production, processing, storage, import and marketing of health supplements, special dietary and medical foods, probiotic and prebiotic foods, and nutraceuticals and similar foods.
Licences and registration will also be required for genetically modified or edited foods, organic foods, irradiated foods, novel foods, functional foods and fortified foods, as well as foods carrying health claims or disease risk reduction claims under the Safe Food (Advertisement and Claims) Regulations, 2025.
The BFSA warned that operating a food business without the required registration or licence, despite the obligation, is a punishable offence under the relevant provisions of the Safe Food Act, 2013.
It urged traders and establishments to complete the necessary preparations ahead of the deadline.
Both registration and licences will be valid for three years and must be renewed afterwards.
According to the regulations, first-time registration is free for the 16 conventional categories of food business.
The premises licence fee for superfood manufacturers will depend on floor size, ranging from Tk 10,000 for establishments of up to 100 square metres to Tk 60,000 for new licences for those larger than 10,000 square metres.
Every food product package must carry the BFSA registration number, allowing consumers to tell at a glance whether the producer is registered and to file complaints by citing the number.
Initially, applications can be submitted at the BFSA or its respective district offices. The authority has, however, begun taking steps to move gradually to fully online applications.
The BFSA believes the initiative will bring transparency and accountability to food business registration and licensing, make food production and marketing more orderly, and strengthen efforts to ensure safe food and protect public health.