Imported spices may mask true Ceylon flavour: PA cautions

Imported spices could dilute Sri Lanka’s globally recognised ‘Pure Ceylon Spices’ brand, the Planters’ Association (PA) warned yesterday, cautioning that the government's decision to allow spice imports threatens decades of work in building the island’s reputation for premium quality.

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The association said the move could blur the line between imported and locally grown produce, putting authentic cinnamon, Pepper, nutmeg and cloves at risk of substitution, and weakening the brand identity painstakingly established in export markets.

The government last week approved a regulatory framework granting ‘approved enterprise’ status to selected companies to import spices for processing into value-added products such as oil extracts and oleoresins for reexport. While the policy aims to boost value-added spice exports, the PA said it risks undermining the integrity of Sri Lanka's core spice production.