The High Court on Tuesday ordered the formation of a three-member expert committee to investigate reports of microplastics in toothpaste after a private study claimed to have detected the particles in 26 brands available in the market.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) urged the public not to panic, saying it has launched its own investigation and that no conclusions should be drawn until scientific verification is complete.
The order was issued by a High Court bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Md Ziaul Haque following a preliminary hearing on a public interest writ petition.
The court directed the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and BSTI to submit an investigation report within 15 days. It also ordered the formation of a three-member committee comprising experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the Science Laboratory and BSTI.
The move follows a recent study by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), which reported detecting microplastics in 26 of 34 toothpaste samples tested, triggering public concern.
Microplastics are plastic particles measuring five millimetres or less and are considered an emerging environmental and public health concern by the World Health Organization.
The writ petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun, who told reporters that the court had been asked to determine whether the detected microplastics pose risks to human health and the environment. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 25.
BSTI: Wait for scientific verification
In a statement issued on Tuesday, BSTI said many countries have banned the intentional use of plastic microbeads in toothpaste. However, international toothpaste standards neither specify permissible limits for unintentionally occurring microplastics nor provide a standard testing method.
BSTI said Bangladesh’s toothpaste standards also contain no specific provisions on microplastics. The approved list of 81 ingredients for toothpaste manufacturing does not include microplastics, meaning there is no provision for their intentional use.
The standards authority said the detection of plastic particles alone does not prove that manufacturers deliberately used them or that the products pose health risks. Such conclusions require detailed analysis of the type, source and concentration of the particles, as well as a comprehensive health risk assessment.
BSTI said it has sought the complete study, testing methodology and raw data from ESDO, while separately collecting toothpaste samples from the market and manufacturing facilities for independent testing at accredited laboratories in Bangladesh or abroad.
It added that if any product is found to violate national standards or contain unauthorised ingredients, legal action will be taken against the manufacturer under existing laws.
The agency also announced a review of Bangladesh’s toothpaste standards involving relevant government agencies, researchers, dental professionals, industry representatives and consumer groups.
Urging the public not to be swayed by rumours, BSTI advised consumers to continue maintaining regular oral hygiene and rely on verified scientific information until the investigation is completed.
