Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe yesterday chaired a high‑level discussion on problems faced by food importers during customs clearance, including delays caused by multiple inspections by state agencies.
Officials from Sri Lanka Customs, the Plant Quarantine Unit, Food Control Unit, Department of Import and Export Control, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution joined the talks, alongside importers who directly presented their concerns.
An example was cited where two different reports were issued for the same rice sample tested at separate locations. Minister Samarasinghe stressed the need to expedite laboratory work and standardize evaluations.
He noted that delays in releasing food containers from ports result in financial losses to importers, which ultimately burden consumers. The Minister instructed officials to streamline document checks across institutions and establish a unified mechanism to minimize time and cost losses.
Samarasinghe further emphasized that imported food items must meet the highest quality standards, and that importers are responsible not only for offering goods at lower prices but also for ensuring suitability for consumers.
He added that importers, as an association, must take responsibility to prevent unsuitable food products from entering the country. (Newswire)