Commonwealth Trade MSME Exporter Portal

馃嚙馃嚛 Bangladesh 路 Category 5 of 9

HACCP / SPS Requirements

May be outdated 路 12 Mar 2026

Food, fish and agricultural exports must meet sanitary and phytosanitary controls, with HACCP-certified processing and official health or phytosanitary certificates.

Overview

If you export anything edible or of plant/animal origin, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules are the gate that most often stops small exporters. Bangladesh is a WTO member and applies the WTO SPS Agreement. Fish and shrimp, a major export, are controlled by the Department of Fisheries, which runs the fish-inspection and quality-control system, requires processing plants to operate an approved HACCP plan, and issues the health certificate that markets like the EU demand; the EU periodically audits Bangladesh's competent authority. Plant and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate from the Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension, issued under the Plant Quarantine Act 2011 to match the importing country's requirements. For a small food or agri exporter the sequence is: build a documented HACCP/food-safety system, get your plant approved and listed by the competent authority, then obtain the consignment-level health or phytosanitary certificate for each shipment. Watch ePing for changes to your destination market's maximum residue limits and testing rules.

Key requirements

  1. 1

    Approved HACCP / food-safety plan

    Fish and processed-food plants must implement and maintain a HACCP system approved by the competent authority before export listing.

  2. 2

    Competent-authority plant approval

    The Department of Fisheries (fish/shrimp) or BSTI/food safety authority must inspect and list the establishment, especially for EU-bound exports.

  3. 3

    Health certificate per consignment

    Each fish/animal-origin shipment needs an official health certificate confirming it meets the importing country's sanitary rules.

  4. 4

    Phytosanitary certificate

    Plant and plant-product consignments need a phytosanitary certificate from the Plant Quarantine Wing (DAE) under the Plant Quarantine Act 2011.

  5. 5

    Residue and contaminant testing

    Accredited-lab testing for pesticide residues, heavy metals, antibiotics and microbiological limits to match destination MRLs (e.g. EU, US FDA).

Documents you will need

  • HACCP plan / food-safety management certificate
  • Competent-authority establishment approval or listing
  • Official health certificate (fish/animal origin)
  • Phytosanitary certificate (plant origin)
  • Accredited laboratory test / analysis report
  • Certificate of Origin
  • Commercial invoice and packing list