📈 Enhanced Standards for Sri Lanka's Organic Sector

The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) has released the second revision of the national organic standard (SLS 1324:2025). This updated framework aims to strengthen the credibility of organic agriculture and align local production with evolving global trade requirements. • Core Scope: Governs the entire value chain, including crop and livestock production, aquaculture, wild harvesting, processing, and marketing. • Mandatory Management: Introduces the Organic Management Plan (OMP), requiring operators to document systematic procedures for soil fertility, pest management, and traceability to ensure accountability. • Strict Prohibitions: Explicitly bans hydroponics (non-soil based systems), GMOs, ionizing radiation, and nanotechnology to protect organic integrity. • Sustainability & Ethics: Integrates social justice principles, focusing on fair labor practices and worker welfare within the agri-business sector. • Sector Impact: Enhances market access for high-value exports such as tea, spices, and coconut products by aligning with international certification benchmarks. This revision provides a robust regulatory foundation to prevent misleading claims, improve consumer confidence, and support the long-term growth of Sri Lanka’s sustainable agriculture exports.