• Certification awarded after decade long “arduous” endeavour
• Obtained GI status is a country first for Sri Lanka
• Over 30,000 stakeholders in cinnamon industry reap benefits of milestone
• New GI status will allow special focus to be given on rural development, says EDB

Sri Lanka this week received the much awaited Geographical Indication (GI) certification from the European Union (EU) Commission, a progress achieved after more than a decade long effort.

The Export Development Board (EDB) announced yesterday that GI status granted to Ceylon Cinnamon is an outcome of a “decade-long, arduous endeavour” led by the relevant State authorities with the support from private sector stakeholders.

The certification which was officially granted for Ceylon Cinnamon on 2 February 2022 is a country first.
“An enhanced competitive position of Ceylon Cinnamon in the EU market will have a positive impact in terms of an increase in exports for Sri Lanka, higher income and employment generation across the cinnamon value chain, benefiting about 30,000 stakeholders involved in cinnamon production and processing,” the EDB said in a statement to the media announcing the much awaited certification.

The GI acts as a source of competitive advantage which will help increase market differentiation, product turnover, and allow for a premium price from the consumer, the EDB added.

GI registration was essential for the local cinnamon sector as its purpose is to differentiate Ceylon Cinnamon in the EU market from its substitutes of lower quality.  

In 2020 October, the Ministry of Trade submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to advise the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to amend the Intellectual Properties Act No. 36 of 2003, with the provisions to establish a comprehensive and definitive legal framework for the registration of geographical indications in Sri Lanka.

As part of obtaining the GI status, the Ceylon Cinnamon Geographical Indication Association (CCGIA) was established representing all stakeholders in the cinnamon industry in the country.

The responsibility of the CCGIA is to implement an internal control mechanism to monitor their members meeting the specifications stated in the GI specification document.

The participants within the cinnamon supply chain need to be registered and obtain the membership of the CCGIA to export Ceylon Cinnamon to the EU region under the ‘Ceylon Cinnamon’ name.

Objections were raised by the competing countries to block the granting of GI status by the EU commission to Sri Lanka for Ceylon Cinnamon, however, the EDB, with the support of the stakeholders secured the landmark accomplishment.

Sri Lanka was able to secure the GI status that was much needed to boost cinnamon exports, with technical assistance provided by UNIDO, EU delegation to Sri Lanka, and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Financial assistance was granted by the Common Fund for Commodities based in the Netherlands.

Supporting the EDB in the breakthrough mission was also the Foreign Ministry, Department of Commerce, National Intellectual Property office, the Department of Export Agriculture, Spice Council and the Spices and Allied Products Producers’ Traders’ Association (SAPPTA).

With Sri Lanka having bagged GI status, the EDB said special focus can be given on rural development through Ceylon Cinnamon GI certification.