Awareness Workshop on the Proposed Changes in the Legal Framework of the National Organic Agricultural System in Sri Lanka, Organized by the National Organic Control Unit (NOCU) of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the ITC-UK Trade Partnership Programme
Date - 20th January 2026
Venue – Ramada Hotel Colombo
The organic agricultural product export sector of Sri Lanka has recorded significant growth over the past three decades, establishing the country as a reliable and trustworthy exporter in the global organic market while generating considerable foreign exchange earnings.
The global organic market is currently valued at approximately EUR 136.4 billion, with Sri Lanka earning over USD 0.5 billion annually from the export of organic products. Presently, the sector consists of nearly 400 certified organic exporters, operating under a range of internationally recognized organic standards, including the Sri Lankan Organic Standard, EU Organic, USDA Organic, JAS, Demeter, and Naturland. Together, these certifications cover more than 70,000 ha of agricultural land, with over 20,000 farmers certified as organic producers through exporters and processors as farmer groups.
The National Organic Control Unit (NOCU) has been established under the Export Development Board (EDB) as per the regulations published under Section 29 of the Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979 in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 1870/71 dated July 11.EDB is deemed as the Organic Control Body of Sri Lanka to ensure proper controlling and monitoring of the organic agriculture system in the country to maintain its credibility in the global market.
The global market requirement of organic Agriculture is changing rapidly, and new challenges are faced by the stakeholders continuously. EDB- NOCU has identified the importance of upgrading Sri Lankan Organic Standard (SLS 1324:2018) and Sri Lanka Organic Regulation to get mutual recognition with international organic standards to face these challenges in the global market. Fortunately, EDB-NOCU received the technical assistance under the UKTP (United Kingdom Trade Partnership Programme), to upgrade the Sri Lankan Organic standard and regulations to obtain mutual recognition for GB Organic regulation as the initial step thereby making a path to obtain the recognition for Sri Lankan Organic Standard from the EU and other strategic destinations.
This series of workshops is organized to raise awareness among all organic sector stakeholders on the proposed amendments to the existing regulatory framework, which are currently under development and yet to be formally published as the Sri Lanka Organic Regulations.
