Launched of Amendment Sri Lanka Organic Standard .

 Prees Conference 20th January 2026 @ 11.00am at the Ramada Hotel Colombo , Sri Lanka .

Sri Lanka Strengthens Organie Export Sector with International Standard Alignment 

AWareness Workshop on the Proposed Changes in the Legal Framework of the National

Organie Agricultural System in Sri Lanka, Organized lby the National Organie Control Unit

(NOCO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the ITCUK Irade

Partnership Programme

The organic agricultural product export sector of Sri Lanka has recorded significant growth over the

past three decades, establishing the country as a reliable and trustworthy exporter in the global organic

market while generating considerable foreign exchange earnings.

The global organic market is currently valued at approximately EUR 136,4 billion, with Sri Lanka

eaming over USD 0.5 billion annually from the export of organic products. Presently, the sector

consists of nearly 400 certified organic exporters, operating under a range of internationally

recognized organic standards, including the Sri Lankan Organic Standard, EU Organic, USDA

Organic, JAS, Demeter, and Naturland. Together, these certifications cover more than 70,000 ha of

agricultural land, with over 20,000 farmers certified as organic producers through exporters and

processors as farmer groups.

The National Organic Control Unit (NOCU) has been established under the Export Development

Board (EDB) as per the regulations published under Section 29 of the Export Development Act No.

40 of 1979 in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 1870/71 dated July 1 1.EDB is deemed as the Organic

Control Body of Sri Lanka to ensure proper controlling and monitoring of the organic agriculture

system in the country to maintain its credibility in the global market.

The global market requirement of organic Agriculture is changing rapidly, and new chalenges are

faced by the stakeholders continuously. EDB- NCU has identified the importance of upgrading Sri

Lankan Organic Standard (SLS 1324:2018) and Sri Lanka Organic Regulation to get mutual

recognition with international organic standards to face these challenges in the global market.

Fortunately, EDB-NOCU received the technical assistance under the UKTP (United Kingdom Trade

Partnership Programme), to upgrade the Sri Lankan Organic standard and regulations to obtain mutual

recognition for GB Organic regulation as the initial step thereby making a path to obtain the

recognition for Sri Lankan Organic Standard from the EU and other strategic destinations.

This series of workshops is organized to raise awareness among all organic sector stakeholders on the

proposed amendments to the existing regulatory framework, which are currently under development

and yet to be formally published as the Sri Lanka Organic Regulations.

ndard

Revised National Standard Strengthens the Framework for

Organic Agriculture in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a long-standing tradition of environmentally harmonious agricultural practices,

rooted in indigenous knowledge systems, mixed farming and biodiversity-rich home garden

systems. In recent decades, organic agriculture has gained increasing national importance as a

sustainable approach to address soil degradation, environmental pollution, food safety concerns

and the growing demand for quality agricultural produce. In this context, the establishment and

periodic revision of a national standard for organic agriculture is essential to ensure credibility,

consistency and consumer confidence in organically labelled produce and products in Sri Lanka.

Recognizing these national priorities and evolving global developments, the Sri Lanka

Standards Institution (SLSI) has recently revised SLS 1324:2025 – Requirements for Organic

Agriculture Production and Processing, This revision represents the Second Revision of the

standard, originally published in 2007 and previously revised in 2018 and provides a

comprehensive and up-to-date framework governing organic production, post-harvest handling,

storage, processing, packaging, labelling, transportation and marketing of organic produce and

products.

Need for Revision

The revision of SLS 1324 was undertaken in response to significant changes in organic agriculture

practices, certification systems, international trade requirements and consumer expectations.

Increasing concerns related to misleading organic claims, environmental sustainability,

traceability and food safety necessitated a more robust and harmonized standard.

SLS 1324:2025 aligns Sri Lanka's organic agriculture framework with internationally recognized

principles and best practices while ensuring relevance to local agro-ecological, socio-economic

and regulatory conditions.

Seope and Coverage

The revised standard applies to a wide range of activities including:

Crop production, livestock production, aquaculture, mushroom and apiculture

Wild harvested products

Processing, storage, transport and marketing of organic products

Packaging, labelling and certification claims

Key Enhancements Introduced

1. Mandatory Organic Management Plan (OMP)

A major enhancement in the revised standard is the introduction of the Organic Management Plan,

which requires operators to document and implement systematic procedures covering land use,

soil fertility, pest and disease management, record keeping and traceability. This strengthens

transparency, inspection efficiency and accountability across the organic value chain.

2. Strengthened Crop Production Requirements

Greater emphasis is placed on soil-based production systems, biodiversity conservation, crop

rotation and agro-ecosystem management. The revised standard explicitly prohibits hydroponic

and other non-soil-based systems for organic crop production, reinforcing the foundational

principles of organic agriculture.

3. Enhanced Livestock, Aquaculture and Apiculture Provisions

Updated requirements ensure improved animal welfare, responsible feed management.

biosecurity, cnvironmental protection and ethical husbandry practices. IDetailed provisions are

included to address conversion periods, parallel production risks and permitted inputs.

4. lmproved Processing, Packaging and Labelling Controls

Significant revisions have been made to processing aids, additives, packaging materials and

labelling practices to prevent misleading claims and safepuard organic integrity. These measures

enhance consumer contidence and support fair trade practices.

5. Clear Prohibitions and Integrity Safeguards

The standard clearly prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOS), ionizing

radiation, nanotechnology and synthetic inputs not expressly permitted. Robust requirements are

included įn preventing contamination, commingling and loss of organic integrity.

6. Inclusion of Social Justice Principles

In line with modern sustainability frameworks, SLS 1324:2025 incorporates social justice

considerations, emphasizing fair labour practices, worker welfare and cthical business conduct

within organic operations.

Benefits to Stakeholders

The revised standard provides clear and consistent guidance to farmers, processors, exporters,

certification bodies and regulators. It supports:

Sustainable agricultural practices

Consumer protection and informed choice

Improved market access for certified organic produce and products

Alignment with national legislation and international trade requirements

By promoting environmentally sound and socially responsible production systems, the standard

contributes to long-term food security, environmental conservation and rural development.

As the national standards body, the SLSI remains committed to developing, reviewing and

maintaining standards that support national development objectives and protect public interest.

The revision of SLS 1324:2025 reflects SLSI's ongoing efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka's organic

agriculture sector through credible, transparent and internationally aligned standards. SLSI

encourages all stakehol ders to adopt and implement this revised standard to ensure the integrity,

sustainability and continued growth of organic agriculture in Sri Lanka.

The Author

Mrs. Ganiesha Jayamini De Silva serves as Deputy Director of the Agriculture Section of the

Standardization Division at the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.