Sri Lanka Tightens Food and Agricultural Product Standards

Sri Lanka has implemented stricter quality control measures for key agricultural and food items, including milk powder, rice, and chicken, through updated import and export regulations.

Compliance Overview: Stricter Quality Control Measures for Key Agricultural and Food Imports in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has strengthened its regulatory framework to enforce mandatory quality and safety standards for key agricultural and food imports, including milk powder, rice, and chicken, through the Imports and Exports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations No. 01 of 2022 and the Draft Imports and Exports Control (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024. These measures are implemented under the Compulsory Import Inspection Scheme (CIIS), operated by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), and require compliance with Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) as a precondition for importation^{1, 2}.

Regulation Analysis

1. Legal Framework and Applicability

The regulations apply to all trading partners and cover specific food commodities listed in Schedule I(A) and I(B) of the Draft Imports and Exports Control (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024, including:

• Milk powder (e.g., HS codes 0402.10, 0402.21, 0402.29)
• Rice (e.g., HS codes 1006.30, 1006.40)
• Chicken (e.g., HS codes 0207.11, 0207.12, 0207.13, 0207.14)
• Other food items specified in Serial Nos. 1–48 (Schedule I(A)) and 128–131 (Schedule I(B))².

2. Key Requirements for Importers

A. Mandatory Compliance with SLSI Standards

• Importers cannot import specified agricultural and food items (e.g., milk powder, rice, chicken) unless they conform to the relevant Sri Lanka Standards (SLS)^{1, 2}.
• The SLSI operates the Compulsory Import Inspection Scheme (CIIS), which enforces pre-shipment or post-shipment testing and certification¹.
• No international standards (e.g., Codex Alimentarius) are referenced; compliance is based exclusively on SLSI standards².

B. Inspection and Certification Process

• Importers must submit pre-shipment inspection reports or certificates of conformity issued by SLSI-recognized laboratories¹.
• The SLSI may conduct random post-shipment inspections to verify compliance¹.
• Non-compliant shipments are subject to rejection, destruction, or re-exportation at the importer’s expense¹.

C. Documentation and Record-Keeping

• Importers must retain certificates of conformity, test reports, and import permits for at least two years¹.
• The Import Controller General and SLSI may request documentation for audits or investigations^{2, 1}.

3. Objectives and Rationale

The regulations aim to:

1. Prevent deceptive practices and protect consumers from substandard or unsafe food products¹.
2. Safeguard human health and safety by ensuring imported food meets minimum quality and safety benchmarks^{2, 1}.
3. Align with national priorities to reduce reliance on low-quality imports and promote domestic food security².

4. Enforcement and Penalties

• Non-compliance with SLSI standards may result in:
  • Prohibition of importation¹.
  • Seizure and destruction of non-conforming goods¹.
  • Legal action under the Imports and Exports Control Act (penalties include fines and imprisonment)².
• The Import Controller General and SLSI are empowered to suspend or revoke import licenses for repeated violations².

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Compliance Timeline

Summary Answer

Sri Lanka has implemented stricter quality control measures for key agricultural and food imports, including milk powder, rice, and chicken, through the Imports and Exports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations No. 01 of 2022 and the Draft Imports and Exports Control (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024. Importers must comply with Sri Lanka Standards (SLSI) as a precondition for importation, enforced via the Compulsory Import Inspection Scheme (CIIS)^{1, 2}. Non-compliant goods are prohibited, and importers face rejection, destruction, or legal penalties¹. The 2024 Draft Regulations expand the scope of covered items and propose adoption by 21 July 2024, with public comments accepted until 21 June 2024². Enforcement is led by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the Department of Imports and Exports Control^{1, 2}.

Sources

1. ↩ Imports and Exports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations No. 01 of 2022 – Gazette Extraordinary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka No. 2262/16 dated 11 January 2022 _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN22/LKA49.DOCX
2. ↩ Draft Imports and Exports Control (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024 _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NLKA46.DOCX