From this December onwards, it is mandatory for all small and medium scale, spice manufacturers in Sri Lanka to obtain quality certification.
The reason being, a high demand for Sri Lankan spices in the international market, however, no programme has been implemented to ensure the quality of spices in our country. The problems faced by the small and medium spice industries in this matter were informed to Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera.
Thereafter, the Minister instructed the National Spices Corporation to immediately start a quality assurance programme for the spice products of small and medium scale industrialists in the country’s spice processing industry.
Following which on Wednesday Nov 15, several joined a discussion about the spice quality certification programme at the Ministry of Plantation Industry.
Here it was decided, National Spices Corporation, Hatton National Bank and SGS Institute of Singapore are going to sign this tripartite agreement together.
According to this, it is mandatory for all the small and medium scale spice manufacturers in Sri Lanka to obtain this standard certificate from this December, said Kumudini Arya Gunasena, President of the National Spices Corporation.
Spices like pepper, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon are the most popular spices of this country and they are used by people in many parts of the world.
Nirmanee Igalahewage