Eateries must obtain licences from Nov 1

Food businesses across Bangladesh, from roadside pitha and puri-piyaju stalls to restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops, will have to register with the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) from November 1 under new regulations aimed at ensuring food safety and strengthening accountability.

Food packages must also display the BFSA registration number, enabling consumers to identify the businesses responsible for the products they purchase.

The requirements will be implemented under the “Safe Food (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 2026”, according to a BFSA notice issued on Wednesday. The regulations were published in the official gazette on July 16.

Under the new rules, registration will be mandatory for 16 designated categories of food businesses, including restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, catering services, dairy product manufacturers, packaged food producers, food warehouses, cold storage facilities, and specified food importers and wholesalers.

Initial registration for these 16 categories will be free. However, businesses involved in producing, processing, storing, importing and marketing specialised food products must obtain the applicable licences and other necessary approvals.

Operating without the required registration or licence will constitute an offence under the Safe Food Act, 2013.
Separate licensing requirements will apply to infant formula, specialised foods for elderly people and patients, dietary supplements, special dietary foods, probiotics, prebiotics and nutraceuticals.

Additional approvals may also be required for genetically modified, organic, irradiated, novel and fortified foods, as well as products carrying health-benefit or disease-risk-reduction claims.

The premises licence fee for establishments covering 100 square metres or less is Tk 10,000. For establishments exceeding 10,000 square metres, the fee for a new licence is Tk 60,000.

The BFSA has advised businesses to check Schedule 10 of the regulations for applicable fees and conditions before applying.

Initially, applications can be submitted through the authority's district offices. A fully online application system is planned for phased introduction.

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

The BFSA expects the new framework to improve transparency in food production and marketing, facilitate consumer complaints and strengthen accountability across the food business sector. It also cautioned that registration alone does not guarantee food safety, and businesses must comply with other applicable standards.