Sri Lanka
Negotiating · Strong coverage
Laws, documents and trade data — no screening rules yet
Screening rules for this market aren't available yet, so product screening skips it.
Market profile
- Main food law
- Food Act No. 26 of 1980
- Labeling regulation
- Food (Labelling & Advertising) Regs 2022 (in force Jul 2025)
- Additives and residue limits
- Food (Additives – General) Regs 2019; heavy-metal testing (2023)
- Import requirements
- SLSI import inspection (Regs 2017); FCAU/NPQS/DAPH approvals; 60% shelf-life
- National standards body
- SLSI (SLS) — paywalled (some free)
- Latest USDA FAIRS report
- 2025
Certificates required
Certificates named in this market's profile
Health certificate; Veterinary (animal products); Phytosanitary (plant products); Certificate of origin; Analytical/melamine-free (dairy); GMP (processed); Halal voluntary (HAC)
Import and export
Documents to import
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / airway bill / road manifest — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Customs declaration (import) — Issued by: Sri Lanka Customs — Mandatory
- Importer / customs client registration — Issued by: Inland Revenue (TIN/VAT) / Sri Lanka Customs — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: Exporting-country chamber/customs — Conditional
- SLSI Import Inspection Scheme clearance — Issued by: Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) — Conditional
- Health certificate / certificate of analysis / COC — Issued by: Exporting-country authority / lab — Conditional
Documents to export
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Customs export declaration — Issued by: Sri Lanka Customs — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: Department of Commerce (preferential) / chambers — Conditional
Government fees
- SLSI import inspection fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- SLSI testing fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- FCAU food sampling / analysis fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Import licence fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Ports & Airports Development Levy (PAL) (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Special Commodity Levy / SSCL (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Customs single window: ASYCUDA (CusDec)
Customs duties are not included.
A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.
Reference documents
- FAIRS Country Report Annual (CE2025-0006) (2025) Open the source
- FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual (CE2025-0005) (2025) Open the source
- Food (Labelling and Advertising) Regulations 2022 + amendment (effective 1 Jul 2025) (2022) Open the source
- Food (Additives – General) Regulations 2019 (2019) Open the source
- Imports and Exports Control (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2017 (2017) Open the source
- Exports (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 2013 (2013) Open the source
- Food Act No. 26 of 1980 (1980) Open the source
- SLSI Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) – food standards Open the source
Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.
Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.