Bangladesh’s exporters often have to rely on overseas laboratories and certification bodies when domestic testing facilities cannot provide internationally recognised results, adding costs, administrative burdens and time to the export process.
To address the issue, the government is planning a major overhaul of the country’s standards, testing and certification system to reduce exporters’ reliance on overseas testing facilities and cut compliance costs that undermine competitiveness in international markets.
Under the government’s five-year strategic framework for reform and development, authorities plan to strengthen the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), expand laboratory capacity, introduce digital certification systems and secure international accreditation for testing and certification services.
The initiative aims to address weaknesses across Bangladesh’s standards and conformity-assessment infrastructure, including inadequate laboratory capacity, limited accreditation, certification procedures, enforcement gaps and shortages of skilled manpower.
The government plans to implement the reforms in three stages — recovery and stabilisation in the first year, restoration within one to three years, and reconstruction and acceleration over three to five years.
Recovery and stabilization phase
In the first year, authorities will conduct a gap assessment of Bangladesh’s standards, testing and certification systems against the requirements of priority export markets, covering laboratory facilities, accreditation, certification procedures, enforcement, human resources and sector-specific compliance needs.
The findings will guide a time-bound strengthening plan for BSTI, while the government will identify priority areas for Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), particularly in sectors with immediate export potential.
Such agreements could allow Bangladeshi testing and certification results to be recognised by trading partners, reducing the need for duplicate testing abroad.
The framework also includes a roadmap to strengthen domestic standards enforcement and a national programme to help exporters meet emerging international requirements on product quality, safety, sustainability and other compliance areas.
Restoration phase
During the one-to-three-year restoration phase, the government plans to implement the BSTI capacity-upgrading programme, prioritise internationally accredited testing and certification services for selected export sectors, and begin negotiations on mutual recognition arrangements with key trading partners where feasible.
The phase will also include risk-based inspections, digital tracking and improved coordination among BSTI, customs, sector regulators and export promotion agencies to strengthen standards enforcement.
Reconstruction and acceleration phase
The final phase, covering three to five years, envisages an internationally aligned standards and certification system, with BSTI and related institutions providing internationally recognised testing and certification services for priority export sectors.
The phase will also focus on expanding mutual recognition arrangements with key markets and institutionalising domestic standards enforcement to support quality upgrading and consumer protection.
The reform aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s quality and compliance infrastructure, helping firms move into more demanding and higher-value international markets by turning standards and certification into an instrument for export competitiveness.
