Sri Lanka has launched its first National Food Safety Policy, establishing a comprehensive, risk-based framework intended to protect public health, strengthen national food systems and provide clearer strategic direction across the country’s agri-food sector.
The policy was reported in the Ada Derana First at 9 news bulletin of 2 September 2026 and was officially announced by the United Nations in Sri Lanka. It represents a significant institutional milestone because food safety responsibilities have historically been administered through a range of laws, agencies and sector-specific procedures, whereas the new policy provides an overarching framework designed to connect those efforts across the entire food chain.
Developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, through the Food Control Administration Unit, the policy establishes a national vision for safe, healthy and quality food for all. Its approach extends from agricultural production and food processing to transportation, retail, preparation and consumption, thereby placing public health considerations at the centre of the national food system.
A coordinated framework for safer food
Food safety is closely linked to public health, nutrition, consumer confidence, agricultural productivity and economic development. As food production systems become more sophisticated, supply chains become more extensive and consumer preferences continue to evolve, greater coordination is required among regulators, producers, importers, exporters, laboratories, retailers, food businesses and households.
The new policy is intended to provide that coordination through a preventive and science-based approach. Rather than relying only on responses after a food-safety concern has emerged, the framework is designed to encourage the identification, assessment and management of potential hazards throughout the food chain.
Such an approach is particularly relevant to a country with a varied food economy, in which traditional agriculture, modern processing, domestic markets and international trade operate alongside one another. The policy is expected to help bring greater consistency to food-safety standards while supporting practical implementation at national, provincial and local levels.
The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has developed the policy through the Food Control Administration Unit, which serves as a central point for food-safety activities in Sri Lanka. The policy is expected to strengthen collaboration among the institutions responsible for regulating, monitoring and communicating food-safety requirements.
Six strategic areas will guide implementation
The National Food Safety Policy focuses on six key areas, each of which addresses an important part of the country’s food-safety system.
1. Governance and coordination
The first priority is the strengthening of food-safety governance and institutional coordination. Clearer cooperation among government bodies and other stakeholders is expected to reduce duplication, improve accountability and support more consistent decision-making.
Because food safety involves multiple stages and authorities, coordinated action is instrumental. Agricultural production, food processing, public health, commerce, education and local administration all have a role to play, and the policy is intended to create a more connected national structure for that work.
2. Food safety controls
The second area concerns food-safety controls throughout the food chain, from production to consumption. The policy is expected to reinforce preventive practices among farmers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, food-service operators and consumers.
This farm-to-fork perspective recognises that food safety cannot be secured at a single point. Hygiene, storage, handling, transportation, processing and preparation all influence the quality and safety of food reaching the public. Greater consistency across these stages is expected to strengthen consumer protection and encourage improved standards among food businesses.
3. Legislation and regulations
The third priority is the enhancement of legislation, standards and regulatory systems. The policy will be supported by a proposed updated Food Act, which is expected to provide an improved legislative foundation for food-safety controls in Sri Lanka.
Modern legislation can assist regulators and businesses by clarifying responsibilities, updating standards and aligning national practices with international expectations. It can also provide stronger support for the safe movement of food products through domestic and international markets.
The policy therefore complements Sri Lanka’s existing food-safety framework while providing a strategic basis for future legislative and regulatory improvements.
4. Surveillance and laboratories
The fourth strategic area is the strengthening of surveillance, laboratories and risk analysis. Reliable testing and evidence-based monitoring are essential to a modern food-safety system because they enable authorities to identify hazards, assess trends and make decisions based on scientific information.
Improved laboratory capacity is expected to support more accurate analysis of food samples and enhance the ability of relevant institutions to monitor food-safety conditions. Stronger surveillance systems can also provide valuable information for regulators, producers and consumers, while helping the country respond more effectively to changing food-production practices and complex supply chains.
This area is especially important for strengthening confidence in Sri Lanka’s food-control system, both among local consumers and among international partners.
5. Communication and capacity building
The fifth priority is communication, education and capacity building. Food safety depends not only on regulations and inspections but also on knowledge, awareness and daily practices.
The policy is expected to support education and training for food producers, food businesses, public officials, laboratory personnel and consumers. Clear communication can help explain food-safety responsibilities in practical terms, while capacity building can improve the ability of institutions and businesses to meet those responsibilities.
For consumers, greater access to reliable information is expected to encourage safer food handling and informed decision-making. For producers and businesses, training can support improved hygiene, storage, labelling and operational practices.
6. Monitoring and evaluation
The sixth area is the establishment of robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These mechanisms are expected to track the implementation of the policy, measure progress and identify areas requiring further attention.
Monitoring and evaluation can ensure that the policy remains an active framework rather than a static document. Evidence gathered during implementation is expected to support future improvements, strengthen accountability and help authorities assess whether the policy is delivering its intended public-health and economic benefits.
International support for a national milestone
The policy was developed with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the European Union through the EU-funded Mainstreaming Standards-Based Best Practices for Agri-Food Sector Development programme, known as BESPA.
FAO provided national and international technical expertise during the preparation of the initial policy draft and supported its refinement through technical reviews and stakeholder consultations. The collaboration reflects the importance of international knowledge-sharing in strengthening national food systems and aligning food-safety practices with accepted global standards.
The European Union’s support through the BESPA programme has also contributed to a broader focus on sustainable and resilient agri-food development. The partnership is expected to assist Sri Lanka in building a food-safety system that benefits consumers, producers, businesses and public institutions.
The official announcement noted that the policy’s implementation will be supported by the proposed updated Food Act. Stakeholder consultations on the proposed legislation were held during 2026, with technical inputs sought from relevant institutions.
Expected benefits for public health and the economy
Authorities expect the National Food Safety Policy to reduce foodborne illnesses, improve consumer confidence and strengthen public awareness of safe food practices. These expected benefits are closely connected, because confidence in food systems is built through visible standards, reliable testing, transparent communication and consistent oversight.
The policy is also expected to support international trade by strengthening the systems through which food products are assessed, monitored and regulated. More robust food-safety arrangements can assist Sri Lankan producers and exporters seeking to meet the requirements of overseas markets.
Further expected benefits include reduced food losses, improved nutrition outcomes and greater competitiveness for Sri Lanka’s agri-food sector. When food is stored, handled and transported safely, avoidable losses can be reduced, while producers and businesses may gain greater value from their products.
The policy is additionally expected to support tourism by reinforcing confidence in the quality and safety of food available in Sri Lanka. This benefit has been presented as an anticipated outcome of stronger food systems rather than as a separate tourism initiative.
A stronger foundation for Sri Lanka’s food systems
The launch of the National Food Safety Policy provides Sri Lanka with a more integrated foundation for managing food safety in a changing national and international environment. Its six strategic areas bring together governance, controls, regulation, science, communication and accountability, creating a structure through which improvements can be planned and measured.
For Sri Lankan consumers, the policy is expected to support safer and more reliable food. For farmers, food businesses and exporters, it is intended to provide clearer standards and improved institutional coordination. For the wider economy, it offers a framework through which food safety can contribute to public health, sustainable production, trade and confidence.
The policy’s success will depend on effective implementation, adequate technical capacity and continued cooperation among all institutions involved in the food chain. Nevertheless, its launch marks an important step towards a more preventive, coordinated and science-based national food-safety system.
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Source: https://youtu.be/EK0_4sh-CE0?si=7N5U_WrBX109Qx1
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