Govt. wants new rules for organic farming
Sri Lankan authorities have drafted new standards for the importation of organic fertiliser that does not include sterilisation requirements. This was a key factor that acted as an impediment to the purchase of the Chinese organic fertiliser from Qingdao Seawin Biotech company last year.
The ‘Draft Sri Lanka Standard Specification For Specialty Fertilisers’ has been made open for public comments that will close by March 26 and pertains to liquid or solid specialty fertilisers applied to the soil and/or foliage, informed sources said.
It is learnt that during the end of last year attempts were made to amend the regulations brought about under the SLS 1704 standards which specifically calls for the sterilisation of organic fertilisers at the point of import.
But since this was refused by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) government authorities are now trying to bring in a new set of standards in line with the import of organic fertiliser, which experts opine could be to ensure that the government can then purchase the organic fertiliser agreed to be purchased from the Qingdao company.
Sri Lanka agricultural sector authorities through the Fertiliser Advisory Committee in 2013 had taken a decision not to import any organic fertiliser to the country.
Organic fertiliser if imported is likely to contaminate the soil and as a result the authorities had agreed to not import any organic fertiliser.
But when government policy changed to the adoption of organic farming practices through the purchase of imported organic fertiliser in 2021 a new regulation under SLS 1704 was brought in that clearly spelt out the requirement for sterilisation standards in a bid to avoid foreign microorganisms from entering the country.
In the draft document it is stated that specialty fertilisers consist of primary nutrient may contain beneficial microorganisms and/or micronutrients.
This Standard is subjected to the restrictions imposed under the Regulation of Fertiliser Act No. 68 of 1988, Fauna and Flora Protection Act No. 44 of 1964, Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999, Food Act No. 26 of 1980, Animal Diseases Act. No. 59 of 1992, National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 and Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance (chapter 222), their amendments and the regulations framed thereunder, and any other regulatory and statutory requirements wherever applicable.
Agriculture Department Director General Dr. Ajantha De Silva told the Business Times that the requirement for the drafting of these new regulations is because there was no standard previously for specialty fertiliser.
He explained that specialty fertilisers meant those which are not really basic fertiliser but are second or third generation fertilisers. In this respect while urea or Muriate of Potash (MOP) is a primary product fertiliser, chelate or slow release and even nano fertilisers that are organic or inorganic are considered specialty fertilisers.
Commenting on the requirement for sterilisation of organic fertilisers, he noted that at present the existing regulation under SLS 1704 which requires this is still effective even if new regulations are brought in.
A number of institutions like the Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Institute of Agriculture and other NGOs have been involved in developing this draft set of standards.
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