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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...

Total Saudi wheat imports for 2025/26 are forecast to decline 10 percent to 3.2 million metric tons (MMT), due to projected high local production. Saudi barley imports for MY 2025/26 are projected to increase by 10 percent to 3.3 MMT compared to last MY.

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.

The HRI sector is witnessing remarkable growth, fueled by urbanization, a surging population, rising disposable incomes, shifting social and cultural trends, and a thriving tourism industry. The Saudi food retail market, currently valued at $30 billion, is projected to grow by another $15 billion by 2030.

The ongoing transformation of Saudi Arabia bodes well for the retail food sector. In 2023, the Saudi food retail market was estimated at more than $51 billion and projected to increase by more than 5 percent annually in the coming years due to the continued urbanization, growing population, changing shopping habits, expansion of physical store locations , and increasing popularity of online platforms.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) regulations allow the importation of biotech plant products, but they are required to be labeled if they contain more than one percent genetically engineered (GE) plant ingredients. As a result, many retail packaged food importers do not import biotech foods due to concerns that biotech labeling could jeopardize their image.

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.

Total Saudi wheat imports for 2024/25 are forecast to reach 4.25 MMT, an increase of 2 percent over marketing year (MY) 2023/24.

This FAIRS report lists the export certificates required for food and agricultural products shipped to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka). An export certificate matrix is included in this report.

The Food Act No. 26 of 1980, Animal Feed Act No. 15 of 1986, Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999, and Import and Export Control Act No. 1 of 1969 are the main laws that govern food imports into Sri Lanka. Import regulation are in the hands of several state institutions, making the process complicated and time-consuming.