DHAKA, July 23, 2026 (BSS) - Ministry of Agriculture has formed a 19-members high profile expert committee to formulate a pesticide policy.

The committee will frame policy on pesticide use, import, registration, quality control and safe application of chemical or bio-chemical agents in the country to ensure safe food.

The committee is headed by Agriculture Secretary as the convener and the Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) as member secretary, said a ministry office order.

The objective of the committee is to formulate an integrated policy guideline for sustainable agriculture development, safe food production through ensuring soil, water, environment and public health safety, the release said.

Additional secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), senior officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Department of Environment, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) will be the members of the committee.

Besides, two professors, one each from Dhaka University and City University, representatives from Bangladesh Institution of Food Professionals and Bangladesh Crop Protection Association are members of the committee.

The committee has been asked to formulate a combined policy guideline after reviewing the existing Pesticides Act, 2018, regulations and concerned activities within next three months.

The terms of reference of the committee includes- analyzing existing problem of pesticides management, recommendations of necessary reformation and responsibility and co-opt experienced person or experts if necessary.

A time befitting pesticide policy formulation is very much urgent for making the pesticides use scientific, limited and environment friendly, said the ministry.
An effective policy reform will be brought in pesticides management in future based on the recommendations of this new expert committee.

The initiative also will play vital role in developing a sustainable agriculture system and safe agro-commodity production along with protecting soil, water, environment, bio-diversity and public health through resisting the haphazard use of pesticides, the ministry release said.