COLOMBO – The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brasilia has finalized the certification process with Brazilian authorities for the export of Sri Lanka Cinnamon in bark form to Brazil.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Brazil, in a statement issued on Monday (21), said the certification would facilitate exporters to ship Sri Lankan Cinnamon in bark form to Brazil by furnishing the necessary phytosnitary certificate issued by the National Plant Quarantine Service office in Sri Lanka.
According to Brazilian Customs’ classification and the plant health requirements, Sri Lanka Cinnamon in bark form is listed under wood and its products category due to the nature of the product.
The statement said that in order to facilitate entry of Sri Lankan Cinnamon to Brazilian market, the Embassy had been actively engaging with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply in Brazil, known as MAPA and the Export Development Board and National Plant Quarantine Service office in Sri Lanka, for over a year, to finalize the Certification Process for Sri Lankan Cinnamon.
The Embassy noted that cinnamon has a promising market opportunity in Brazil as the spice is popular in Brazilian cuisine, beverages and confectioneries with 2300 tonnes, valued at US$ 7.74, imported in 2019. However, it said cinnamon imports from Sri Lanka accounted for only a small percentage in 2015, with no recorded direct imports in recent years. Being the key exporter of cinnamon, Indonesia supplies nearly 75% of total cinnamon to Brazil, it added.
The statement also said Sri Lanka cinnamon exporters can claim 5% duty preference, under the GSTP Agreement from Brazil, and urged the companies that are interested in exporting cinnamon, in bark form to consult with the Department of Commerce to receive the GSTP certificate.
It also urged prospective exporters to consult with the National Plant Quarantine Service office in Sri Lanka to obtain necessary certification documents, verifying the consignment is free from injurious insects, bacteria, nematodes and fungi and has been subjected to fumigation using Methyl Bromide at 48g/m3 (above 210C).
-ENCL