Does Your Product Require An Export License

When the export procedure of Sri Lanka is considered, the products that needs to be exported should be permitted by the relevant authorities. Some products should be registered or to obtain a license, or a certificate, to be exported.

Certificate of Origin (GSP), Certificate of Origin, Quality Certificate, Health Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate, Fumigation Certificate are the certificates required for Export.

A certificate of Origin is issued to certify that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in a particular country. GSP Certificate is issued by export Inspection Agency. Certificate of Origin is issued by chambers, i.e. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, National Chamber of Commerce. While the Quality Certificates are issued by Sri Lanka Standard Institution (SLSI), the private quality certificates are issued by SGS Lanka Ltd. Health Certificates are issued by health authorities such as Sri Lanka Standard Institution, Animal Quarantine Station Department of Animal Production and Health, when meat, fish and live animal are exported. Phytosanitary certificate is issued by the Plant Quarantine Service of the Department of Agriculture, when perishable items such as cut flowers, foliage plants and vegetables are exported. A Fumigation Certificate is mandatory to be issued in order to achieve the phytosanitary certificate. Fumigation Certificate is the certificate issued when wood materials are used to pack export goods such as cut flower foliage plants, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, tea, coir products etc. This certificate includes the details such as treatment purpose, fumigants used, temperature range. The buyer will insist the supplier to produce the fumigation certificate. These fumigation activities are implemented by the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) of the Department of Agriculture (DOA).

For Beer and Alcoholic beverages, a permit for export of excisable articles should be obtained by the Department of Excise. For Non-Alcoholic beverages such as bottled drinking water/ Mineral water, a permit should be issued by the Department of Health. Coconut and Coconut based products should be permitted by registering in Coconut Development Authority (CDA). Apparel products should be registered in Apparel Export Service Division of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. ICT/BPO/KPO products should be registered in Board of Investment.

Fish and Fisheries products should be registered in Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development. For Sea cucumber, Lobsters, Coral Chanks and conch shells to be exported, a license should be obtained by Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development. Ayurveda and Herbal Products should be registered in Department of Ayurveda. For Herbal plants, a permit for export of raw and dried ayurvedic substances in commercial quantities is required. Herbal plants and wooden based toys and furniture should be registered in Department of Forest and to obtain a permit. For wood including logs and Swan timber, a license issued by the Forest Department is required. For article of wood (ebony), a license issued by National Crafts Council and Forest Department is needed. A manufacturing license issued by Cosmetic devices and Drug Regulatory Authority is required for Herbal Cosmetics. For meal scraps, slag, dross, ingots, granules, powders etc.., a license by Ministry of Industry and Commerce should be issued. A license issued by the Department of wild life conservation is required for Ivory and Ivory products. For Passenger Motor Vehicles first registered in Sri Lanka prior to 01.01.1945, a license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles is required. Gems, Diamonds and jewelry should be registered in National Gems and Jewelry Authority

(NGJA) and to be exported, Gem dealers license is required. Cinnamon products should be obtained a license to use Pure Ceylon Cinnamon logo by Sri Lanka export Development Board. Mineral should be registered in Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and a license on minerals in raw and semi-finished forms is required.

Tea products should be registered in Sri Lanka Tea Board and a Certification of Average Auction price (AAP) on Bulk Tea and Quality Certificate for each shipment are required. For meat products Health Certificate and Processing Center certificate with either ISO, HACCP or GMP should be issued. For Cashew Kernals, a fumigation certificate and a Compulsory pre-shipment inspection certificate issued by Sri Lanka Standard Institution (SLSI) are required. For all spices, a certificate of origin issued by chamber of commerce/ Department of commerce is required. Cinnamon products should be obtained the certificate of pre-inspection by SLSI/SGS Lanka Pvt Ltd. Herbal cosmetics should be issued a quality/introduction certificate by Industrial technology Institute (ITI) or Pharmaceutical and cosmetic product section of the Health Department. Fish and fisheries products should be issued GSP form A certificate by Department of commerce, Certificate of Origin issued by Chamber of commerce, Health Certificate issued by Department of fisheries and Aquatic resource, catch certificate, ICCTA certificate for sword fish, statistical document for Big Eye tuna. Ornamental fish should be obtained the phytosanitary certificate by animal quarantine service.

Antiquities or cultural property, Dangerous drugs, Explosives, prohibited species of live fish, Minerals in raw form, Obscene publication and literature, Protected plants listed under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and Dead or live animal or its parts are the prohibited items for export. But for research purposes and for exchange with foreign zoos and museums, the permits are issued to export dead or live animals and parts of the animals.

Penned By Ridmi Kaushala