• Final step remains in registering Ceylon golden pineapple for GI status
• GI bid for Ceylon pepper faces setbacks over national vs. regional certification dispute
• Process now under Agriculture Ministry after portfolio reshuffle: Govt.
• Producer groups must lead GI requests under international norms: official

Sri Lanka is on the cusp of securing Geographical Indication (GI) status for Ceylon golden pineapple, with only the final registration process remaining, the Government reveals.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Director (Development) – Coconut and Minor Crops R.C. Watawala stated that they had completed all preparatory work necessary for securing GI status for Ceylon golden pineapple and that what remained was merely the final registration process.

“With regard to pineapple, we took the process to the very end. All that is left is the registration. We did everything else. We trained the people, formed associations, and followed the necessary procedure. That process is now at the very end,” he stated.

Commenting further, Watawala revealed that they had also taken steps to acquire GI status for Ceylon pepper. 

However, he conceded that the process in respect of pepper had been bogged down by disputes over whether Sri Lanka should secure GI for Ceylon pepper on a national or region-specific basis.

“According to accepted norms and rules, the Government cannot obtain GI. It should be obtained by a group or association that produces that product. It is they who must request GI. We can only facilitate the process. 

“An argument has now arisen between these groups. We were originally going to secure GI for pepper on a regional basis, while the process was ongoing. Some argued that GI for pepper should be secured on a national basis,” Watawala added.

He further clarified that responsibility for facilitating the process to secure GI status for both Ceylon pepper and Ceylon golden pineapple had until recently been the responsibility of the Ministry of Plantations, adding that following the reshuffling of ministries and their functions by the new Government, the responsibility had now been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Attempts by The Sunday Morning Business to reach out to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation proved futile.