According to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Sri Lankan government has introduced new regulations regarding genetically engineered (GE) food imports.
The amendments to the Food (Control of Import, Labelling and Sale of Genetically Modified Foods) 2006 regulations were officially published on June 23rd in the government's gazette. The changes state that any food containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms (GE) or materials less than 0.9% will no longer require approval from the Chief Food Authority for importation or mandatory labeling.
This is a significant change from the previous regulations in 2006, which required prior approval from the country's Food Control Administration and mandatory labeling for any food or agricultural product with a GE content higher than 0.5%.
The new regulation will have a positive impact on the export of non-GE soybeans, non-GE corn (maize), and other agricultural or food products from the United States. These products can now be imported into Sri Lanka without the need for prior approval from the Chief Food Authority and mandatory labeling.
The implementation of these new regulations aims to facilitate trade and ensure a smoother import process for genetically engineered food products.
