The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has made registration and licensing mandatory for specified categories of food businesses and food products from November 1, 2026, to ensure food safety, protect public health and bring discipline to the sector.

The authority announced the requirement in a press release on Wednesday, following the publication of the Safe Food (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 2026, in the official gazette on July 16.

Under the Safe Food Act, 2013, and the new regulations, 16 categories of conventional food businesses will require registration, while businesses dealing with certain specialised food products will need licences and other applicable approvals.

The new rules cover a wide range of businesses, from roadside food stalls and small restaurants to bakeries, sweet shops, catering services, dairy product manufacturers, packaged food producers, importers, food warehouses and cold storage facilities.

Even vendors selling traditional snacks such as pitha, puri and piaju from roadside stalls will have to register with the BFSA.

The regulations also cover businesses involved in the production, processing, storage, import, export and marketing of various specialised food products, including fortified foods, health supplements, organic foods, genetically modified foods, probiotic and prebiotic products, and food additives.

Businesses dealing with specialised products, including infant formula, medical and dietary foods, nutraceuticals and health supplements, will be subject to additional licensing requirements, depending on the nature of their operations and products.

The BFSA said applications must be submitted in accordance with the prescribed forms, fees and conditions set out in the regulations.

First-time registration will be free for the 16 specified categories of conventional food businesses.

Registration and licences will remain valid for three years and must be renewed upon expiry.

Food product packages must also display the relevant BFSA registration number to help consumers identify registered businesses and submit complaints when necessary.

Initially, applications can be submitted through the authority’s district offices, while steps are being taken to introduce a fully online application system.

Operating a food business without the required registration or licence will constitute a punishable offence under the relevant provisions of the Safe Food Act, 2013.

The authority has urged all concerned businesses and establishments to complete the necessary preparations and obtain the applicable registration or licences in line with the new regulations.

Source: