NGAWANG JAMPHEL | Thimphu
The Bhutan Food and Drug Regulatory Authority (BFDA) has stepped up laboratory testing and import regulations following reports that Indian mangoes failed food safety checks in Japan and Nepal. The move comes after several consignments of mangoes imported into Bhutan tested positive for calcium carbide, a chemical prohibited for artificial ripening.
Dechen Wangmo, Chief Regulatory and Quarantine Officer at BFDA, emphasized that food safety is a top priority for the Ministry of Health and the regulatory authority. “Food safety is a matter that the Ministry of Health and the Bhutan Food and Drug Regulatory take very seriously because protecting the health of our people is our foremost priority,” she said.
Bhutan operates a risk-based food safety system, which means not all imported food products are treated the same. Instead, regulatory oversight focuses on products more likely to pose risks, while authorities continuously monitor international food safety alerts and emerging concerns. This system allowed BFDA to respond swiftly when concerns about mangoes surfaced.
In the first round of testing, BFDA analysed 11 mango samples. Two tested positive for calcium carbide. Although the number was small, the detection raised alarm because calcium carbide is known to leave harmful residues of arsenic and phosphorus, posing health risks to consumers.
Recognizing the need for broader surveillance, BFDA conducted a second round of testing. This time, 23 samples were collected from border entry points and markets in Thimphu, covering different importers. Of these, 10 samples tested positive for calcium carbide, with the majority belonging to the Langra variety of mangoes.
Based on the evidence, BFDA immediately strengthened its regulatory measures. All consignments of Langra mangoes are now required to undergo testing in an accredited laboratory before they can be released into the Bhutanese market. Import documentation is also being subjected to greater scrutiny, and surveillance has been intensified across entry points and markets. Importers have been formally notified of these enhanced requirements.
BFDA has assured the public that it acted immediately when concerns first emerged and responded with scientific testing. The authority reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and maintaining consumer confidence in Bhutan’s food safety system.
The issue of mango safety is not confined to Bhutan. Earlier, reports from Japan and Nepal indicated that Indian mangoes had failed safety tests, prompting regional concern. Bhutan’s swift response reflects its proactive stance in aligning with international food safety alerts and ensuring that potentially harmful products do not reach consumers.
The strengthened measures are expected to reassure consumers and maintain trust in Bhutan’s food safety system. By focusing on high-risk products and varieties, BFDA aims to prevent health hazards while ensuring that safe imports continue to reach the market. The authority has also signaled that it will continue monitoring international developments and adjust its regulatory approach as needed.
Food safety experts note that Bhutan’s approach demonstrates the importance of risk-based regulation in small markets. By targeting resources where risks are highest, authorities can protect public health without unnecessarily burdening importers of low-risk products.
As the mango season continues, consumers are advised to remain vigilant and trust that BFDA’s enhanced oversight will ensure that fruits available in Bhutanese markets meet safety standards. The Ministry of Health and BFDA have reiterated that protecting the health of the people remains their foremost priority.
