The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has released a draft national standard establishing requirements for hard candy products, including hard-boiled candy and lozenges, whether filled or unfilled and coated or uncoated. The proposed standard outlines the essential product specifications, ingredient requirements, and testing methods to ensure safety and quality for confectionery products marketed in Bangladesh.
The draft standard incorporates permitted ingredient lists, guidelines for the use of food additives and preservatives, and hygienic and legal requirements applicable to the manufacture of hard candy. It also introduces provisions covering packaging and labelling requirements to support product traceability and consumer information.
In addition, the draft sets food safety parameters, including microbiological criteria and limits for heavy metal contamination. Under the proposal, Salmonella must be absent in the product, while maximum limits are established for several heavy metals: arsenic (1 mg/kg), lead (1 mg/kg), cadmium (1 mg/kg), and tin (2 mg/kg). These parameters are supported by internationally recognized analytical methods such as BDS ISO 6579-1 and AOAC testing procedures.
If adopted, the standard will provide a harmonized regulatory framework for the production, testing, and marketing of hard candy products, requiring manufacturers to comply with the specified safety limits, quality controls, and labeling requirements to ensure consumer protection.
Consumer News Region