Exceptions (ships stores)

Export certification is not issued for ships stores as the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 do not apply. Ships stores are milk and milk products on ships or aircraft for the use of passengers and crew or for the service of the ships or aircraft on a voyage from Australia.

​​Establishment listing is not required for the export of milk and milk products to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has banned the import of genetically modified foods.

The Department has no knowledge of any other products that are prohibited for export to this market.

Information about Sri Lanka's import requirements are on the Sri Lanka Standards Institution website. This includes:

• the Imports (Standardisation and Quality Control) Regulations 2006 (PDF 1.4 MB)
• a flow chart of import inspection procedures (PDF 40 KB) (that is, details if product is tested on arrival) and
  
• information on registration of overseas laboratories which refers to pre-export test information.

As outlined in Section 4.1 Microbial and residue sampling, butter, milk powder and margarine may require residue or microbial test results by a National Association of Testing Authority (NATA) accredited laboratory in order to enter Sri Lanka. Testing for Salmonella may be required for milk powder, where Salmonella should not be present in a 500 g sample.

The Department does not need to endorse these tests. It is the exporter’s responsibility to find out from the Sri Lankan importing authorities whether residue or microbial test results are needed.

Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the Department is required by Sri Lanka.

We are not aware that Sri Lanka has any known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.

Unless technical products and pharmaceutical material are prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods. They are not regulated by the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Unless animal food is prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods.

In accordance with the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, animal food must be clearly identified as animal food and not for human consumption. It must also be segregated from and not contaminate milk and milk products that are for human consumption.

Sri Lanka has no known additional requirements for Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products that differ from the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Manufacturing Grade products are defined in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Butter, milk powder and margarine may require residue or microbial test results by a National Association of Testing Authority (NATA) accredited laboratory in order to enter Sri Lanka. Testing for Salmonella may be required for milk powder, where Salmonella should not be present in a 500g sample. the Department does not need to endorse these tests. It is the exporter’s responsibility to find out from the Sri Lankan importing authorities whether residue or microbial test results are needed.

Sri Lanka has no other known additional requirements for microbial sampling of milk and milk products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Sri Lanka residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Sri Lanka or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Sri Lanka and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

• These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Sri Lanka standards and the Australian standards.
• Any detection of a residue above the Sri Lanka​ MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note

Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

Sri Lanka has no known additional requirements for general operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Sri Lanka has no known additional hygiene requirements that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rules

1. are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal; and
2. are intended to be exported as food.

Milk and milk products that are not prescribed under Australia's export rules

Milk and milk products which do not meet the criteria under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 are classified by Australia as non-prescribed goods. It is the responsibility of the exporter to confirm with Sri Lanka if there are any specific requirements for the import of these products. Typically, non-prescribed goods include, ice-cream, non-bovine milk products, colostrum and products with a minor component of dairy.

Further information on exporting non-prescribed goods from Australia is available on the Department's website.

In some cases, an importing country requires specific health certification and government oversight for what would typically be non-prescribed milk and milk products. When required, these products become prescribed under export legislation and must meet all export and importing country requirements. This includes, the products being manufactured and stored at an export registered establishment and must have a valid export permit and health certificate for each consignment. Guidance on export registration can be found at Dairy export registered establishments.

5.1.1 Health certificate for milk and milk products

For milk and milk products produced for human consumption (including milk and milk products classified as a prescribed good by an importing country), use Health Certificate template ZD035.

ZD035 Dairy health certificate

The ZD035 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Fit for human consumption
3. Of Australian origin.
   

Endorsement 341 – DAIRY/FISH – SRI LANKA The product is fit for human consumption.

The product is fit for direct human consumption.

Based on the operation of Australia's food safety system and the export inspection and certification system and supported by the results of testing, it can be concluded that dairy products exported from Australia do not contain residues of melamine of a public health concern, and thus conform to the maximum levels specified in the Sri Lanka Food (Melamine in Food Products) Regulations 2010.

For milk and milk products, the ZD035 Health Certificate can be used with optional endorsements; 415, 416 or 417.

Optional Endorsement 415 – DAIRY – SRI LANKA radioactivity & fit for Human Consumption

The product is fit for direct human consumption.

The goods described in this certificate have not been contaminated by radioactive elements from nuclear fallout. Analysis of representative samples of similar products has shown that the radioactivity level does not exceed 20 Bq/kg.

Based on the operation of Australia's food safety system and the export inspection and certification system and supported by the results of testing, it can be concluded that dairy products exported from Australia do not contain residues of melamine of a public health concern, and thus conform to the maximum levels specified in the Sri Lanka Food (Melamine in Food Products) Regulations 2010.

Optional Endorsement 416 – DAIRY – SRI LANKA disease and fit for human consumption

The product is fit for direct human consumption.

Animals from which these products were taken were free from clinical diseases caused by the agents listed in the Office International des Epizooties List A for the species concerned, and live in an area free of these diseases. I further certify that Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.

Based on the operation of Australia's food safety system and the export inspection and certification system and supported by the results of testing, it can be concluded that dairy products exported from Australia do not contain residues of melamine of a public health concern, and thus conform to the maximum levels specified in the Sri Lanka Food (Melamine in Food Products) Regulations 2010.

Optional Endorsement 417 – DAIRY – SRI LANKA Radioactivity, Disease & fit for Human Consumption statements

The goods described in this certificate have not been contaminated by radioactive elements from nuclear fallout. Analysis of representative samples of similar products has shown that the radioactivity level does not exceed 20 Bq/kg.

The product is fit for direct human consumption.

Animals from which these products were taken were free from clinical diseases caused by the agents listed in the Office International des Epizooties List A for the species concerned, and live in an area free of these diseases. I further certify that Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.

Based on the operation of Australia's food safety system and the export inspection and certification system and supported by the results of testing, it can be concluded that dairy products exported from Australia do not contain residues of melamine of a public health concern, and thus conform to the maximum levels specified in the Sri Lanka Food (Melamine in Food Products) Regulations 2010.

Cheese

Imported cheese requires a certificate from an accredited NATA laboratory stating that the cheese does not contain any genetically modified material or ingredient. Exporters are encouraged to work with their importer to ensure their product meets Sri Lankan importing country requirements.

Exporter declaration

Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:

1. applies to the milk and milk products
2. complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Transit certification requirements

Milk and milk products transiting the European Union or the United States may require transit documentation. These certificates are available as additional certificates through the EXDOC system. If the product is transiting the United States, standard certification is required and the exporter should contact the Department for advice on how this certification may be issued. If the product is transiting a European Union member state, see the particular European Union member state regarding the certificate template to select.

For Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products, use the ZD016 Certificate as to Condition for Manufacturing Grade products.

The ZD016 Certificate as to Condition contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Of Australian origin.

The ZD001 Certificate as to Condition may be issued for technical products and pharmaceutical material.

The ZD001 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information on this form is true and correct in every particular details and that the product described above is of Australian origin and is acceptable for sale in Australia.

The ZD015 Certificate as to Condition for Stockfood or the E242A Declaration and Certificate for Shipments of Inedible Animal Products can be issued for stockfood made from milk and milk products.

The ZD015 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Of Australian origin.

The E242A Declaration and Certificate contains the following attestations:

It has been declared to me, a duly qualified veterinary surgeon in the employ of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and I have no reason to doubt the products described above were derived from animals of Australian origin and the products were treated solely within Australia. I further certify that foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest do not exist in Australia.

It is the responsibility of exporters to determine through their importers if export certification is required for consignments and trade samples that are less than 10 kilograms or 10 litres, as an export permit is not required.

The ZX01 Certificate as to Dioxin Status of Australian Dairy Products is available on request.

European Union (EU) transit certificates are available for consignments transiting the EU. Refer to the EU documentation requirements for edible products for the reference numbers and attestations in these certificates.

Exporters should ensure that their importer complies with any requirements to obtain a permit for imports into Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has no known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Sri Lanka has no known specific requirements for labelling in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Sri Lanka has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions other than those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Sri Lanka has no known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).