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The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has said it is taking immediate steps to investigate reports of microplastics in toothpaste after a recent study by a private research organisation found the particles in 26 out of 34 toothpaste samples, raising public concern.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, BSTI said it considers the matter highly important because of its potential implications for public health and the environment.
The standards body said it has begun collecting samples from the market and manufacturing facilities for fresh testing at accredited laboratories in Bangladesh or abroad.
“If laboratory tests confirm that any product fails to meet the Bangladesh Standard or contains unauthorised ingredients, legal action will be taken against the manufacturer in accordance with existing laws,” the statement said.
BSTI explained that microplastics are plastic particles measuring 5 millimetres or smaller, which are generally invisible to the naked eye. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), microplastics are an emerging environmental and public health concern, although research into their potential health effects is still ongoing.
The agency noted that the United States became the first country to ban the intentional use of microplastics in toothpaste and cosmetic products in 2015. Under European Union regulations, manufacturers have until 17 October 2027 to phase out intentionally added microplastics from toothpaste and other cosmetics.
BSTI also said many countries have already prohibited the use of intentionally added plastic microbeads in toothpaste. However, standards in countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as international standards developed by organisations including ISO and ASTM International, do not currently specify limits or bans on unintended microplastic contamination in toothpaste. No internationally accepted threshold or standard testing method for such contamination has yet been established.
Bangladesh has its own national standard for toothpaste, titled BDS 1216:2012 – Specification for Toothpaste. Under government notifications SRO No. 50-Law/2019 and SRO No. 51-Law/2019, manufacturers are required to obtain a BSTI licence after their products pass chemical, microbiological and safety tests before they can be marketed.
Although the Bangladesh Standard does not explicitly prohibit microplastics, it lists 81 approved ingredients for toothpaste production, and microplastics are not among them.
BSTI said manufacturers undergo quality control inspections before certification is granted, making the intentional use of microplastics in toothpaste production impermissible under the current regulatory framework.
