Exporters urge laboratories to boost testing efficiencies

• Say significant amounts of forex spent on obtaining reports from foreign labs
• Highlight need to improve credibility and recognition of local labs

In an effort to extend superior service to overseas customers, top exporters in the country dealing with food and organic products have stressed the need for laboratories to boost their efficiencies and effectiveness.
To minimize the foreign exchange spent annually to obtain test reports from laboratories located in other countries, exporters have requested for a meeting with product testing laboratories to identify the facilities and certifications available at different institutions to comply with the regulations of importing countries.
The concerns and request on the laboratory testing was put forwards at a meeting held by the EDB Advisory Committees on Spices & Concentrates, and Ayurveda & Herbal Products and Cosmetics.

EDB Advisory Committee on Spices & Concentrates Chairman Nanda Kohona, pointed out that exporters face undue delays when receiving reports from local labs. Reason being, the samples have to be sent to labs overseas which results in a considerable amount of foreign exchange to flow out of the country. According to EDB, approximately US$ 10 million to US$ 15 million is spent every year on obtaining reports from foreign labs. 
The need for improving credibility and recognition of local labs came under focus at the meeting.
Testing laboratories agreed to share updated testing and certifications with exporters while pledging to minimize potential delays as much as possible.
The EDB said it intends to take initiatives to further improve the linkage between exporters and laboratories to align them with export requirements.

Senior officials of the EDB, Chairman Suresh D de Mel, Director General - Malani Baddegamage, and Janak Badugama – Director – Export Agriculture Division and other officials graced the occasion.
Participating institutions Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, National Cinnamon Training and Research Centre, SGS Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and Bureau Veritas made comprehensive presentations to brief the exporters on the testing facilities available in their institutes. 
Meanwhile, GALAB Laboratories, Germany, joined the event via Zoom and made a presentation about their services and facilities. The officials of Control Union, a global network of inspection operations and dedicated laboratories, and the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB), the National Accreditation Authority of Sri Lanka, also took part in the interaction and shared their thoughts and observations with the participants.