Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lanka launches nationwide crackdown on chemically treated fruit sales
The government has announced a national initiative to eliminate unsafe pesticides from fruit supplies, with enforcement measures set to begin from April 2027. The move aims to protect children and strengthen consumer confidence in local produce.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Sri Lanka's government has unveiled a comprehensive programme to ensure fruit sold in local markets meets safety standards, with Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe confirming that stringent penalties will apply to sellers of chemically contaminated produce from April 1, 2027.
The initiative, backed by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), represents a significant policy shift toward protecting public health and restoring consumer trust in the nation's food supply chain. Enforcement will operate under existing legal frameworks, with violators facing prosecution for selling fruits treated with unsafe or harmful chemical substances.
The CAA has framed the programme as essential to strengthening food safety mechanisms across Sri Lanka. Officials emphasised that children represent a particularly vulnerable demographic for pesticide exposure, making the standardisation of fruit safety a public health priority.
While the April 2027 enforcement date provides a transition period, the government has signalled its commitment to transforming agricultural practices and retail standards. The programme's success will depend on coordination between regulatory authorities, fruit producers, and retailers to ensure compliance across the supply chain.