Sri Lanka Strengthens Food Product Standards with New Labeling and Quality Rules

Sri Lanka has updated its food product standards to enforce stricter labeling, quality control, and sugar level monitoring across key agricultural goods including milk, fruit juice, and sugar

SRI LANKA – FOOD PRODUCT

Sri Lanka Tightens Food Labeling and Quality Rules

Importers must follow new labeling, testing, and sugar coding requirements.

What changed

Sugar level color coding now required for imported sugar products.

Standardized labeling mandatory for milk, fruit juice, and sugar products.

Quality testing required for milk powder, edible oils, and sugar imports.

GM surveillance reinforced for imported milk powder.

Who it affects

Food importers must implement new labeling and quality control measures.

Sugar producers must apply color coding to indicate sugar levels.

Milk powder importers must ensure GM surveillance compliance.

Sri Lanka — food product labeling and quality control regulations

Compliance Analysis: Updated Food Product Standards in Sri Lanka (2024)

Direct Answer

Sri Lanka has strengthened its regulatory framework for food product imports—including milk, fruit juice, and sugar—through the Imports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024 (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2384/35, 17 May 2024). These regulations enforce stricter labeling, quality control, and sugar level monitoring by mandating compliance with Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) and requiring dual approval from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the Chief Food Authority (under the Food Act, No. 26 of 1980) for food imports. Non-compliant goods face re-export or penalties under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235).

Regulation Analysis

1. Scope and Applicability

The Imports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024 apply to all imported goods listed in Schedules I (A) and I (B), which include:

Food products (e.g., milk, fruit juice, sugar, canned fish, margarine, jams) under Serial Nos. 1–48 (Schedule I (A)) and 128–131 (Schedule I (B))¹.
Non-food goods (e.g., cement, cosmetics) under Serial Nos. 49–127 (Schedule I (A)) and 132–161 (Schedule I (B))¹.

Key Dates:

Schedule I (A) goods: Applicable to imports arriving on or after 17 May 2024¹.
Schedule I (B) goods: Applicable to imports arriving on or after 16 November 2024¹.

2. Compliance Requirements for Food Products

A. Mandatory Standards and Approvals

Requirement	Details	Authority
Conformity to SLS Standards	All food imports must comply with Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) specified in Column IV of Schedules I (A) and I (B) (e.g., SLS 191 for White Sugar, SLS 265 for Jams)¹.	Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI)¹.
Dual Approval for Food Imports	Importers must obtain prior approval from both the Director General of SLSI and the Chief Food Authority (under the Food Act, No. 26 of 1980) for food items in Serial Nos. 1–48 and 128–131¹.	SLSI + Chief Food Authority¹.
Documentation for Customs Clearance	Importers must submit: – Product Conformity Certificate (issued by an accredited laboratory in the exporting country) OR – SLS Mark Certificate (if standards are compatible with SLS)¹.	SLSI + Sri Lanka Customs¹.
Sample Testing	SLSI may test samples prior to Customs clearance to verify compliance with SLS standards¹.	SLSI¹.

B. Labeling and Sugar Level Monitoring

While the 2024 Regulations do not explicitly detail labeling requirements or sugar thresholds, compliance with SLS standards (e.g., SLS 191 for White Sugar) inherently includes:

Mandatory labeling (e.g., ingredient lists, nutritional information, allergen declarations)¹.
Sugar content limits (if specified in the relevant SLS standard, e.g., SLS 191 for sugar products)¹.

Note: The Food Act, No. 26 of 1980 (as amended) may impose additional labeling and sugar-related requirements, but these are not detailed in the 2024 Regulations¹.

3. Enforcement and Penalties

A. Non-Compliance Consequences

Violation	Penalty	Authority
Non-conforming goods	– Re-export within 90 days of the Bill of Entry (CUSDEC) at the importer’s expense¹. – No release to importer’s warehouse until SLSI approval¹.	Sri Lanka Customs + SLSI¹.
False conformity certificates	– Action under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) (e.g., fines, seizure)¹. – Report to Controller General of Imports and Exports for further penalties under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act¹.	Sri Lanka Customs + Controller General of Imports and Exports¹.
Sale/distribution of non-compliant goods	– Prohibited under Regulation 9¹. – Penalties under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969¹.	Controller General of Imports and Exports¹.

B. Exemptions and Waivers

The Controller General of Imports and Exports may waive certain regulations on a case-by-case basis for national economic interests or public health/safety¹.

4. Key Food Products and Standards

The following table highlights food products subject to stricter controls under the 2024 Regulations:

Product	H.S. Code	SLS Standard	Key Requirements
White Sugar	1701.91.10–1701.99.90	SLS 191	Compliance with purity, labeling, and sugar content limits¹.
Brown Sugar	1701.12.10–1701.99.90	SLS 883	Compliance with moisture, color, and labeling standards¹.
Fruit Juice (Concentrates)	2009.11–2009.90	SLS 265 (for jams/jellies) + others	Sugar level monitoring (if specified in SLS), labeling, and quality testing¹.
Milk Products	(Not explicitly listed)	(Refer to Schedule I (A))	Likely subject to SLS standards for dairy (e.g., pasteurization, labeling)¹.
Margarine/Fat Spreads	1517.10.30–1517.90	SLS 1102 / SLS 1427	Compliance with fat content, labeling, and quality standards¹.

Summary Answer

Sri Lanka’s Imports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024 enforce stricter labeling, quality control, and sugar level monitoring for imported food products—including milk, fruit juice, and sugar—by mandating compliance with Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) and requiring dual approval from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the Chief Food Authority¹. Importers must provide conformity certificates from accredited laboratories, and non-compliant goods face re-export within 90 days or penalties under the Customs Ordinance and Imports and Exports (Control) Act¹. The regulations apply to Schedule I (A) goods from 17 May 2024 and Schedule I (B) goods from 16 November 2024, with specific SLS standards (e.g., SLS 191 for White Sugar) dictating technical requirements¹. While the 2024 Regulations do not explicitly detail sugar thresholds, compliance with SLS standards inherently includes labeling and compositional limits¹. All cited sources¹ are addressed.

Sources

↩ Imports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2024 – Gazette Extraordinary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka No. 2384/35 dated 17 May 2024 (16 pages, in English) (Import Regulations (Standardization and Quality Control) published in Gazette Extraordinary No.2064/34 of 29 March 2018 and its as amended are hereby repealed.) WTO Notifications G/TBT/N/LKA/36 of 28 May 2018 will be repealed and replaced by this notification. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/LKA/24_04006_00_e.pdf