The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has allowed accredited private laboratories to conduct chemical testing of imported goods to expedite customs clearance and facilitate trade.
In a recent order, the NBR said that, in addition to government, semi-government and autonomous laboratories, private labs accredited by the Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) and recognized under ISO standards will now be permitted to test imported product samples.
The move comes as existing laboratories face capacity constraints, leading to delays in test results and the release of imported goods.
Under the new rules, private laboratories must follow BAB-approved testing methods. However, the decision will not apply to products for which specific laboratories or authorities have already been designated under the Import Policy Order, the NBR said.
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