Artificial Fruit Ripening and Possible Health Hazard Ethylene, a naturally produced hormone within fruit, regulates fruit ripening by initiating and/or controlling a series of chemical and biochemical activities.1 Ethylene regulates fruit ripening by coordinating the genes responsible for the following activities: increase in the rate of respiration, autocatalytic ethylene production, chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid synthesis alongside conversion of starch to sugar, increased activity of cell-wall-degrading enzymes, changing the colour, texture aroma and flavour of the fruit.2,3 Various chemicals, such as chemically synthesized ethylene, methyl jasmonate, calcium carbide, ethephon and ethylene-glycol can be used to replicate this process artificially.4-7 Amongst the widely used artificial ripening agents, ethylene and methyl jasmonate are reported non-toxic for human consumption, however, they are relatively expensive.6 Therefore, in countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, low cost chemicals such as calcium carbide, 5, 6 ethylene Glycol7 and ethephon4 are reported to be used to trigger the ripening process. Once applied on the fruits, calcium carbide comes into the contact of the moisture and releases acetylene gas, which has characteristics similar to ethylene in terms of ripening fruits.6 On the other hand, in presence of moisture at neutral pH, ethephon is decomposed into ethylene gas, bi-phosphate ion and chloride ion.8 Individually these chemicals can have adverse effect on human health.5-7,9 Direct consumption of acetylene has been found to reduce oxygen supply to the brain and can further cause prolonged hypoxia.9 Calcium carbide is alkaline in nature and irritates the mucosal tissue in the abdominal region; cases of stomach disorder after eating carbide-ripened mangoes has been reported.5 Workers are in direct contact with calcium carbide when applying it to fruits. This may pose a serious health threat as impurities like arsenic and phosphorus found in industrial grade calcium carbide, which may cause dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation in mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer, and so forth.5 A generous consumption of ethylene glycol may cause kidney failure even.7 Legal status: Bangladesh In Bangladesh, the following government ministries and agencies are responsible for the inspection, examination and control of ripening, harvesting and marketing activities of fresh fruit:10 • Ministry of Agriculture; plant protection wing • Customs; inspection of imported fruits and vegetables • Mobile court • Ministry of health; samples collecting and testing • Ministry of science; pesticide testing. There are a number of laws, regulations and standards to support the activities of the above agencies to maintain the quality of the home grown and imported fruits.10-12 The relevant laws and acts are - • Bangladesh Pure Food Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2005 • Agricultural products Market Act, 1950(revised in 1985) and The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Act, 1985 • The Plant Quarantine Act 2011 • The Mobil Court Act 2009 • Bangladesh Consumer Protection Act 2009 • The penal code of Bangladesh • Formalin Control Act, 2014 Amendment of sections 4A and 6A of The Bangladesh Pure Food Ordinance, 1959 (ordinance no LXVIII of 1959) has been proposed to stop adulterations of food.13 According to Bangladesh Pure Food Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2005, a new section named 4A has been introduced, which proposes the formation of a National Food Safety Advisory Council (NFSAC), led by the Minister for Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. This council advises the Government regarding food safety. Again, section-6A prohibits the sale of any food in which chemicals like calcium carbide, formalin, pesticides (DDT, PCBs oil etc) have been used.14 Other rules consist of Agricultural products Market Act, 1950 (revised in 1985) and The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Act, 1985 which relates to the formation of BSTI.15 The second ordinance has been amended as The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (Amendment) Act, 2003. With the help of these acts, products having the standard mark are collected by the surveillance team of BSTI directly from the open market and tested in the BSTI laboratories. Representatives from the Consumers Association Bangladesh (CAB) as well as the Chamber of Commerce and industries help the surveillance team to perform the task. On 20th March 2011 the parliament passed The Plant Quarantine Act 201116 to prevent unapproved export and import of plants (which includes parts of plant also). Violation of this law may result in maximum two years of imprisonment or a BDT 500,000 (USD $6,250 appx.) fine or even both. This replaces The Destructive Insect and Pest Act, 1914. According to The Mobil Court Act 200917 magistrates have the power to impose maximum sentence of two years to anyone who is found guilty of illegal usage of artificial fruit ripening agents. This gives the power to the magistrates to penalize any person using artificial fruit ripening agents illegally right on the spot.