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Sri Lanka’s economic situation is improving and key agricultural inputs like fertilizers and agrochemicals are available in the market although they remain expensive. Rice production is expected to continue on a recovery path. Rice imports are...

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the Food Processing industry in Panama. It is primarily a service – based economy, but food processing is one of its top industries.

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s (Sri Lanka) Ministry of Health and Mass Media extended the implementation effective date of the Food (Trans Fat) Regulations (2022) from January 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s (Sri Lanka) Ministry of Health and Mass Media extended the implementation effective date of the Food (Color Coding for Sugar Levels-Liquids) Regulations (2022) from January 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s (Sri Lanka) Ministry of Health and Mass Media extended the implementation date of Food (Labeling and Advertising) Regulations (2022) from January 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025, except Regulations 13 (16), 13 (17), 13 (18), and 14.

On January 14, 2025, the Panamanian Food Agency (APA) and the Ministry of Health of Panama confirmed that the dairy plants registration process has been significantly expedited, resolving a trade barrier created on July 17, 2023.

Although Panama highlighted the use of biotechnology in its Agricultural State Policy Law 352 of 2023, Panama has not yet established the implementing regulations of Law 48 of 2002, which created the National Commission of Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms.

This report outlines how U.S. food and agriculture exporters engage with the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector in Panama. This sector plays a vital role in Panama's economy and is driven by international tourism.

Singapore’s hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector is vibrant, dynamic and highly competitive with sales totaling $9.4 billion USD in 2023. Consumption patterns are mainly driven by convenience, technology, and changing demographics, health and international food trends with a focus on sustainability and influences by social media (Facebook and Instagram).

Sri Lanka’s agricultural biotechnology policies remain unchanged. Over the past year, there has been no progress in the approval of its draft Biosafety Act, which establishes a system to protect biodiversity, the environment and human, plant and animal health while minimizing the risks of biotechnology.

Singapore does not have any domestic commercial production of plant biotechnology. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) website lists 108 genetically engineered (GE) crops approved for use as food for direct consumption, ingredients, and further processing into ingredients for other food in the country.

The retail food sector is highly competitive in Singapore with no single country holding over 16 percent of the consumer-oriented products market share. Singapore’s economy is beginning to slow due to cost-of-living, inflation, and supply chain challenges.