Bangladesh HC orders microplastics toothpaste probe
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Jul 28, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026
The court order may lead to stricter regulations on toothpaste manufacturers in Bangladesh, potentially increasing compliance costs and affecting sales of products found to contain microplastics. Imported brands from India, Thailand, and Vietnam could also face market access restrictions.
The Bangladesh — High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh of Bangladesh has ordered the formation of a three-member expert committee to investigate the presence of microplastics in 26 out of 34 toothpaste samples tested in the country. The order was issued on July 28, 2026, by a bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury and Justice Md Ziaul Haque following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The committee will include representatives from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the India — Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), and the Bangladesh — Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). The court also issued a rule asking why authorities should not be directed to halt the import, production, and distribution of toothpaste containing microplastics. The investigation stems from a study by the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), which found microplastics in 76.5% of samples from 19 brands manufactured in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. The committee must submit its report within 15 days.
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