Sri Lanka tightens organic agriculture rules with revised national standard

Sri Lanka has strengthened its regulatory framework for organic agriculture with the revision of its national standard, a move aimed at curbing misleading organic claims, improving traceability and aligning local production with international market requirements, the Export Development Board (EDB) said.

The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) has issued SLS 1324:2025 – Requirements for Organic Agriculture Production and Processing, the second revision of the standard first introduced in 2007 and previously updated in 2018. The revised standard introduces tighter controls across the organic value chain, from farm-level practices to processing, packaging and labelling, at a time when the global demand for certified organic produce is increasingly scrutinised.

Under the new framework, the operators are required to maintain a mandatory Organic Management Plan, detailing the land use, soil fertility, pest and disease management, record-keeping and traceability. The measure is expected to improve inspection efficiency and accountability, particularly for the exporters targeting premium markets.

The standard also reinforces core organic principles by explicitly prohibiting hydroponic and other non-soil-based systems for organic crop production, while strengthening the requirements on biodiversity conservation, crop rotation and agro-ecosystem management. The updated provisions cover livestock, aquaculture and apiculture, with greater emphasis on animal welfare, feed management, biosecurity and environmental safeguards.

The processing, packaging and labelling rules have been tightened to prevent the misleading claims, while the use of genetically modified organisms, ionising radiation, nanotechnology and non-permitted synthetic inputs is clearly banned. The revised standard also incorporates social justice principles, including fair labour practices and worker welfare, reflecting the evolving sustainability expectations in global supply chains.

The EDB said the revised standard would provide clearer guidance to the farmers, processors, exporters and certification bodies, while improving market access for Sri Lanka’s certified organic produce by aligning domestic practices with international trade norms.

Sri Lanka has been positioning organic and value-added agricultural exports as part of its broader export diversification strategy but the industry participants have previously flagged the need for stronger standards to protect credibility and consumer confidence.

The SLSI said the revision of SLS 1324:2025 was intended to support long-term food security, environmental conservation and rural development and urged the stakeholders across the sector to adopt the updated standard.