FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY DIVISION (FQSD)

The division is responsible for implementing the Food Act of Bhutan 2005 and to ensure safe and quality food in the country and Biosafety Act of Bhutan 2015 to protect human, animal and environmental health from the unintended effects of GMOs.

The division ensures the manufacture of safe and quality food commodities through implementation of various food safety measures in an effort to facilitate safe food trade. All food businesses are registered with BAFRA for proper coordination of surveillance, monitoring and inspection. The inspections are planned by respective field offices on the risk based approach where the food establishments producing high risk products or have records of failure are inspected more frequently.

The Food Quality and Safety Division operates through 3 sections and is backed up by the National Food Testing Laboratory through its testing facilities as detailed below;

1.Domestic Food Regulatory Section

This section is responsible for carrying out inspection and monitoring for sanitation and hygiene of food businesses/units, certification for product quality and safety, conduct food handlers’ training, surveillance and investigation during food related emergencies.

2.Food import/export regulatory section

This section is responsible for implementation of food import control system, export certification, inspection and documentation of food consignments at the port of entry, sample collection, monitoring of imported food, retail, distribution, recall measures, surveillance and investigation during food related emergencies.

3.Biosafety (GMO) section

This Section will be responsible for handling applications for import of GM food/feed, carry out surveillance, manage incidents related to GMO, manage Bhutan BCH for information sharing and coordinate the risk analysis of imported GM food/feed.

as Food Safety Authority.

BAFRA is headed by the Director General and has two divisions: Food Quality and Safety Division (FQSD) and Plant and Animal Biosecurity Division (PABD) and a separate certification services section. Apart from the head office, BAFRA has field offices in 20 Dzongkhags, 8 Dungkhags, 7 Entry Points (Plant and Animal Quarantine Stations) and 3 branch offices including the National Food Testing Laboratory (NFTL) at Yusipang, Thimphu. BAFRA Head Office is located near the Tashichhodzong and within the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests office complex.

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SERVICES

Plant and animal quarantine Services

The primary mandates of Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) is to implement effective biosecurity measures to protect the agriculture farming system including animal health, and public health from risks of entry, establishment and spread of exotic and or notifiable pests and diseases. Thus, a major role is placed…more

Import permit and clearance

Import of animals/plants and their products are allowed into the country with prior approval and obtaining Import Permit from BAFRA. At arrival at the point of entry, the consignment intended for import must be accompanied with a Phytosanitary Certificate for plant consignment and Zoo-sanitary Certificate for animal consignment…more

In-country movement permits

Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority implements measures to reduce the transmission of animal or plant, pest and diseases from one dzongkhag to another. Hence In-Country Movement Permits are issued

Export certification

BAFRA facilitates the export of plant and plant products by issuing the certificates as per the requirements of the importing country following the procedure below…more

Food Handlers’ Licensing

BAFRA issues food handlers license after a health interview, training on food safety, and signing an undertaking that the food handler and all those under their supervision avoid themselves from handling food under certain conditions of illness as listed below…mo re

Registration & Licensing Services

A person who intends to operate a food business requires a food safety license from BAFRA. BAFRA issues food safety licence to a food business that complies with BAFRA GHP/GMP Criteria for Licensing of food business. To obtain a food safety licence…more

Food Testing Services

To provide food testing services to the regulators, food businesses and the general public, National Food Testing Laboratory was established, and it has following testing facilities..more

Certification Services

BAFRA provides product certification services to support the farmers, industries and commerce in Bhutan for market access and trade facilitation. BAFRA implements product certification in conformity with ISO IEC 17065:2012 to provide a third party mark of certification. Our certification services will enable you…more

Biosafety (GMO) Services

The Biosafety requirements are implemented as per the Biosafety Act of Bhutan 2015, and Biosafety Rules and Regulations 2018. The objectives of this Act is to protect, conserve and safeguard the biodiversity of Bhutan and also to promote the nation’s food and nutrition security and safeguard the animals and human health from unintended effect of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). Read More…