The Government has suspended the importation of organic fertilizer from a Chinese company, Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage announced today.
He said the decision was taken after tests on samples of the fertilizer had identified harmful bacteria.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of Agriculture Dr. Ajantha De Silva said samples from a particular Chinese company tested by authorities once again have shown the presence of bacteria.
He further said that it is the Agriculture Department’s position to not allow any organic fertilizer from the particular Chinese supplier to be imported to the country.
The Chinese company has been revealed as Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd.
Stating that the authorities cannot confirm the presence of microorganism Erwinia, De Silva said, however, they can confirm the presence of harmful bacteria in this new sample.
“The Government will have to cancel the contract awarded to the Chinese company to supply organic fertilizer and the Department of Agriculture will not allow such organic fertilizer with harmful bacteria to enter the country again,” he said.
Earlier in September, Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had revealed that a microorganism identified as ‘Erwinia’ was discovered in organic fertilizer samples brought down ‘unofficially’ to Sri Lanka.
He said the microorganism was found after samples of the organic fertilizer were subject to necessary tests. (NewsWire)