Not in the same form. Bangladesh regulates product safety through a combination of laws: the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Act 2018 for standards and certification, the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 for consumer protection offences and complaints, the Safe Food Act 2013 for food, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 2023 for medicines and cosmetics, and other sector rules for products such as electrical goods, chemicals and vehicles. General law on negligence, contract and sale of goods also applies. We map the regimes that apply to each product so that compliance gaps are not left between regulators.

BSTI maintains a list of products subject to mandatory certification, which covers a wide range of food items, cosmetics and toiletries, electrical and electronic goods, construction materials, chemicals and other consumer products. The list is updated periodically, so we check the current version for each product. Locally manufactured products need a certification mark licence, and imported products on the list need BSTI clearance before release. Selling a listed product without certification can lead to seizure, fines and prosecution. We advise on applications, testing, renewals and the product safety consequences of a failed BSTI test.

Sector regulators have powers to act against unsafe products. The food safety authority can require unsafe food to be withdrawn, the drug regulator can order recalls of medicines and cosmetics, and BSTI can act against substandard products and cancel licences. Consumer rights and mobile court enforcement can lead to seizure and destruction of goods. For many general consumer products, recalls are undertaken voluntarily or under regulatory pressure rather than under a single statutory recall procedure. We advise on the regulator's powers in each case and how a voluntary recall can be structured to manage product safety and legal exposure together.

The decision usually turns on the seriousness and likelihood of harm, the number of units affected, the evidence available and the regulatory and contractual obligations that apply, including those imposed by a foreign parent or export customer. Waiting for certainty can increase both harm and liability; acting too broadly can be costly and damage the brand unnecessarily. We help clients establish the facts quickly, preserve evidence, consult the right regulators and decide on scope and timing. A documented decision process is also important later, because regulators and courts will examine how the business responded to the product safety risk.

Stay cooperative and calm, ensure a senior representative is present, and keep a record of what is inspected, sampled or seized, including copies of any documents signed. Mobile courts can impose fines on the spot under the laws they are empowered to enforce, so the business should understand the alleged offence before responding. After the visit, request the test results and review the sampling procedure. We advise on immediate steps, represent clients in follow-up proceedings, and challenge decisions that are unlawful or based on defective testing, while helping correct any genuine product safety or labelling problem.

Yes. Injured consumers can bring civil claims in negligence, and in contract or under sale of goods law where they bought the product, and can complain under the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009, which provides for administrative action and fines and allows a share of the fine to be awarded to the complainant. Damages in Bangladeshi courts are generally compensatory. The Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act 2026 may require pre-case mediation for some civil claims depending on the district. We defend manufacturers and sellers and assess exposure early in each product safety claim. We also assess insurance cover.

Online sellers and marketplaces sell many regulated products, and the same standards, certification, labelling and consumer protection rules apply to goods sold online. Consumer complaints about online purchases are common, and regulators have paid close attention to e-commerce practices. Marketplaces should have processes for verifying sellers and removing unsafe or uncertified listings, and sellers need clear product information and returns procedures. We advise marketplaces and brands on terms, listing policies, takedown procedures and recall cooperation, so that each party's product safety responsibilities are clear when a problem appears on the platform. Platform records also help in later disputes.

Recovery depends on the supply contract, the evidence of where the defect arose and the applicable law. Well-drafted contracts include warranties, specifications, recall cooperation and cost sharing provisions, indemnities and insurance requirements; contracts without them leave the business relying on general law, which is slower and less certain. Product recall insurance, where held, may cover some costs. We review the contract chain, preserve test results and batch records, notify insurers and suppliers promptly, and pursue recovery through negotiation, arbitration or litigation in Bangladesh or the supplier's jurisdiction, as the contract and the evidence allow. Check contractual notice periods first.