Import Control Procedure

Important! - Please note that the import control procedure described here is not a comprehensive list of requirements but only a guideline and the importers are advised to refer to any other relevant regulations and procedures applicable to the product imported.

Food import control procedure is implemented at the borders by the Sri Lankan Food Control Administration Unit (FCAU) of Ministry of Health to ensure that the food arrives in Sri Lanka are safe for human consumption.

Food Control Administration Unit regulates all food items imported to the country except,

Live animals, raw meat and feed which are controlled by the Department of Animal Production and Health.
Plant products which are controlled by the Plant Quarantine Office of the Department of Agriculture.

Prior registration / approval is required for following food items

Infant milk formula - Approval procedure

Sri Lanka has an adopted standard for Infant milk formulae under the Food (Standard) Regulation 2008.

The relevant standard is SLS1387 and SLS651. Any infant formula imported to our country should comply with these standards.

Prior registration process is implemented to ensure that any infant formulae imported to our country meet with these standards.

There are two types of infant milk formulae namely Infant Formula starter (0-6 Months) and Follow up Formula (6–12 Months). Following procedure equally applies to both.

Procedure to be followed up for registration

Obtain an application FACU - Download application
Handover the filled application to the Food Control Administration Unit (FCAU) along with the following documents
- Analytical Report of the product on Chemical, Microbiology, DCD, Melamine and Radio Activity
- Sample of the product
- Product label which should comply with Food (labeling & Advertising) Regulation 2005
The sample along with the documents will be submitted by FCAU to Food (Technical) subcommittee for evaluation.
On the recommendation of the sub-committee FCAU will issue a registration for one year.
Registration needs to be renewed annually or if the composition of the formula is changed.

Important Notice - Import order should not be placed until the registration is issued in writing by the FCAU

Bottled drinking water - Registration procedure

All food items imported should comply with the following regulations

Food (labelling and advertising) Regulations 2011
Food (shelf life for imported food items) Regulations 2012

The above two regulations apply in addition to the specific regulation(s) governing the product if any such regulation(s) exist for the product. For Eg. Common salt should comply with “Food (Iodization of salt) regulations in addition to the above 2 regulations.

Further, if a standard has been adopted under the “Food (adoption of standards) Regulations for a specific food product that product shall comply with the adopted Sri Lankan standards. There are 101 food products currently regulated by their regulation.

Import Food Inspection & Regulatory mechanism in Sri Lanka

Following is the regulatory mechanism adopted by the Food control unit, and in addition to this all food items arriving in the country should comply with the food (labelling and advertising) regulations 2005 and any other relevant regulations under the food Act No.26 of 1980.
This is not a complete list of items and only commonly imported items are listed. If you have any query please contact the Food control administration unit.
For regulatory purposes all imported food items are categorized into 3 groups based on the perceived risk; and appropriate regulatory measures taken as follows.

High Risk Category (Fish, Milk, Meat, Eggs and their products)
Food item	Prior Permission necessary From	Documents requiredfrom relevant Authority in the Exporting Country	Conformity Assessment	Parameters Tested	Frequency of sampling / examinat
Full Cream Milk Powder	Prior permission not necessary	Health Certificate Analytical Certificate Certificate of country of Origin Melamine & DCD Free Certificate	Analytical Report from Atomic Energy Board (AEB)	Radio activity Levels	Each consignment
			Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters	One in Four Consignment
			Chemical Analysis	Fat content Origin of Fat, D. C. D Contamination	One in Four Consignment
Infant Formulae	Ministry of Health	Health Certificate Analytical Certificate Certificate of country of Origin Melamine & DCD Free Certificate	Analytical report from Atomic Energy Board (AEB)	Radio activity Levels	Each consignment
Infant Formulae	Ministry of Health		2. Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters	One in Four Consignment
Skimmed Milk Powder	Prior permission not necessary	Health Certificate Analytical Certificate Certificate of country of Origin Melamine & DCD Free Certificate	Analytical report from Atomic Energy Board (AEB)	Radio activity Levels	Each consignment
			Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters	One in Four Consignment
			Chemical Analysis	Fat content Origin of Fat, D. C. D. Contamination	One in Four Consignment
Fresh Meat & Meat Products	Dept. of Animal Production & Health (Animal Quarantine office) From License Imports & Export Controller	Health Certificate Certificate of BSE free Status Certificate of country of Origin	Temperature Monitoring Chart	Temperature maintenance	Each Consignment
Fresh Meat & Meat Products			Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters by DAPH*	Each Consignment
Fresh frozen Fish	Animal Production & Health (Animal Quarantine)	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters	Each Consignment
Fresh frozen Fish	Animal Production & Health (Animal Quarantine)	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Chemical Analysis	Formaldehyde Contamination with Level	Each Consignment
Poultry meat (Chicken, Duck, Goose etc.)	Dept of Animal Production & Health (Animal Quarantine Office)	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Temperature Monitoring Chart	Temperature	Each Consignment
Poultry meat (Chicken, Duck, Goose etc.)		Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters by DAPH*	Each Consignment
Medium Risk (Processed meat, canned fish or animal products etc.)
Processed Meat Products	Dept. of animal Production & Health (Animal Quarantine office)	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate GMP Certificate Certificate of BSE Status for beef products	Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters	Each Consignment
Eggs & Egg Products	Dept. of animal Production & Health (Animal Quarantine office) License from Imports & Export Controller	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate GMP Certificate	Microbiological Standards	Microbiological Parameters by DAPH*	Each Consignment
Ready to eat Frozen Foods		Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate GMP Certificate	Microbiological Standards Temperature Monitoring Chart	Microbiological Parameters	If required
Processed Meat Products (Canned)	Animal Production & Health(Animal Quarantine) Imports & Export Controller License	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate GMP Certificate	Microbiological Standards		Each Consignment
Canned Fish	Imports & Export Controller License	Microbiological Standards Health Certificate	SLSI Standard	Dead parasite, worms or any other foreign matter	Each Consignment
Cheese	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Butter	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Canned fruits	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Bovine gelatin	Animal Production & Health(Animal Quarantine)	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate BSE free certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Pre-packaged food item (Biscuits, noodles etc.)	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Health Certificate GMP Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Wheat Flour	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate	Organoleptic Properties	Identify GM Organism (Random)	Each Consignment (organoleptic)
Soya Flour	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate Non GM Certificate	Organoleptic Properties GMO status	Identify GM Organism (Random)	Random
Corn Starch	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate Non GMO Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Animal Fat	Animal Production & Health(Animal Quarantine office) Imports & Export Controller Licen	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Certificate of BSE Status	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Liquid Glucose	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate Non GMO Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Chilies Powder Turmeric Powder and Condiment Powder	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate		Aflatoxin	Each consignment if not carry a certificate
Low Risk (Cereals, pulses, Fruits, Confectionery, primary agricultural products etc.)
Rice Chick peas Green Gram Split Chick peas Split Lentils (Dhal) Black eyed Beans Red Beans Meth seeds Fennel Seeds Turmeric	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto Sanitary Certificate GAP Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
	Prior permission not necessary		Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Coriander Seeds	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate	Testing volatile matter Organoleptic Properties	Volatile Matter	Each Consignment
Dry Chilies	Prior permission not necessary	Spice Board Certificate from country of origin	Organoleptic Properties Chemical Parameters	Aflatoxin Pesticide Residues	Each consignment If and when required
Dry Fish Dry Sprats	Prior permission not necessary		Organoleptic Properties Formaldehyde		Each Consignment
Fresh Fruits	Plant Quarantine unit	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate GAP Certificate	Organoleptic Properties Chemical Parameters	Pesticide Residues	If and when required
Black & Green Tea	Tea Board Imports & Export Controller License		Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Potatoes	Prior permission not necessary		AEB analytical Certificate Chemical Parameters	Radio activity Heavy Metal Pesticide residues	Randomly
Onions	Prior permission not necessary		AEB analytical Certificate Chemical Parameters	Radio activity Pesticide residue	Randomly
Garlic	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate GAP Certificate	AEB analytical Certificate	Radio activity	Randomly
Sugar	Prior permission not necessary	Load Port Survey Report	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Iodized Salt	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate (HM)	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Non Iodized Salt Food Control	Food Control Administration Unit	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate (HM)	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Bottled Drinking Water	Food Control Administration Unit	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Cocoa Beans Cocoa Powder Coffee Beans	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Sugar Confectionary Biscuits	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Pasta Products Breakfast Cereal	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Coconut Kernels	Coconut Development Board		Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Vegetable Oil Vegetable Fat	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Carbonated Soft Drink	Imports & Export Controller License	Analytical Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Fruit Based Drink	Imports & Export Controller License	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificat	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Tomato Paste Tomato Sauce	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Analytical Certificate Non-GM certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each Consignment
Soya Beans	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Non GMO Certificate	Organoleptic Properties	Aflatoxin Level	Random
Soya Sauce	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Non GMO Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each consignment
Bee Honey	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin	Organoleptic Properties		Each consignment
Date	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin	Organoleptic Properties		Each consignment
Peanut	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate	Organoleptic Properties Chemical parameters	Aflatoxin	If and when necessary+
Malt	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate	Organoleptic Properties		Each consignment
Wheat	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary	Organoleptic Properties		Each consignment
Ginger	Prior permission not necessary	Certificate of country of Origin Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary Certificate	Organoleptic Properties AEB analytical Certificate		Each consignment

*DAPH - Department of Animal Production and Health
*AEB - Atomic Energy Board
+ Should carry an Aflatoxin free certificate from the food authority of the exporting country and if not available or issued by any other agency will check the level at the entry ports.