Export Certifications Guide
A comprehensive guide to the key certifications held by Sri Lanka's export manufacturers — what they are, what they mean for buyers, and which products they apply to.
Apparel & Textiles
WRAP — Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production
What it is: An independent, voluntary certification programme covering 12 production principles including legal compliance, safety, human rights, and environmental compliance.
What it means for buyers: WRAP Platinum and Gold are the highest standards — independently audited factories meeting all 12 principles. Sri Lanka has more WRAP Platinum certifications per capita than almost any other country.
Products: All apparel, including intimate wear, woven, and knitted garments.
What it means for buyers: WRAP Platinum and Gold are the highest standards — independently audited factories meeting all 12 principles. Sri Lanka has more WRAP Platinum certifications per capita than almost any other country.
Products: All apparel, including intimate wear, woven, and knitted garments.
GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard
What it is: The world's leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire supply chain.
What it means for buyers: Guarantees organic fibre content AND social compliance throughout production. Required by many EU and US organic fashion brands.
Products: Organic cotton T-shirts, organic lingerie, sustainable fashion.
What it means for buyers: Guarantees organic fibre content AND social compliance throughout production. Required by many EU and US organic fashion brands.
Products: Organic cotton T-shirts, organic lingerie, sustainable fashion.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
What it is: Tests finished textiles for harmful substances — over 100 parameters covering pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, pH level, and colour fastness.
What it means for buyers: Assurance that the final garment contains no substances harmful to human health. Required by many EU retailers for baby and children's wear, and premium adult garments.
Products: All textile garments, underwear, home textiles.
What it means for buyers: Assurance that the final garment contains no substances harmful to human health. Required by many EU retailers for baby and children's wear, and premium adult garments.
Products: All textile garments, underwear, home textiles.
BSCI / SEDEX / SMETA
What it is: BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) and SEDEX/SMETA are social auditing frameworks assessing labour practices, health & safety, environment, and business ethics.
What it means for buyers: Social audit reports accepted by many EU retailers (Primark, H&M, Inditex) to verify supply chain labour conditions without conducting individual factory audits.
Products: All apparel and general manufacturing.
What it means for buyers: Social audit reports accepted by many EU retailers (Primark, H&M, Inditex) to verify supply chain labour conditions without conducting individual factory audits.
Products: All apparel and general manufacturing.
Rubber & Medical Products
FDA 21 CFR — US Food & Drug Administration
What it is: US regulatory clearance for medical devices and food-contact products.
What it means for buyers: Required for all medical gloves, surgical gloves, and food-contact rubber products sold in the US market. Sri Lanka's major glove manufacturers hold FDA 510(k) and 21 CFR clearances.
Products: Surgical gloves, examination gloves, medical rubber goods.
What it means for buyers: Required for all medical gloves, surgical gloves, and food-contact rubber products sold in the US market. Sri Lanka's major glove manufacturers hold FDA 510(k) and 21 CFR clearances.
Products: Surgical gloves, examination gloves, medical rubber goods.
CE Marking + EN 455 / EN 374
What it is: CE marking confirms conformity with EU health, safety, and environmental standards. EN 455 covers medical gloves; EN 374 covers chemical protective gloves.
What it means for buyers: Required for selling medical and PPE gloves in the European Economic Area. Sri Lanka's top glove manufacturers carry full CE/EN compliance.
Products: Medical gloves (EN 455), chemical protection gloves (EN 374).
What it means for buyers: Required for selling medical and PPE gloves in the European Economic Area. Sri Lanka's top glove manufacturers carry full CE/EN compliance.
Products: Medical gloves (EN 455), chemical protection gloves (EN 374).
ETRTO + DOT — Tyre Standards
What it is: ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) and DOT (US Department of Transportation) are mandatory standards for tyres sold in Europe and the US respectively.
What it means for buyers: Required market access certifications for selling tyres in EU and US. Sri Lanka's tyre manufacturers hold both.
Products: Solid and pneumatic industrial tyres.
What it means for buyers: Required market access certifications for selling tyres in EU and US. Sri Lanka's tyre manufacturers hold both.
Products: Solid and pneumatic industrial tyres.
ISO 2000 — Natural Rubber Grading
What it is: The international standard for grading natural rubber by technical specifications (dirt, ash, nitrogen, volatile matter content).
What it means for buyers: Provides transparent, verified quality specifications for raw natural rubber purchases. Sri Lanka's RSS and TSR grades conform to ISO 2000.
Products: Natural rubber sheets, TSR/SLR grades.
What it means for buyers: Provides transparent, verified quality specifications for raw natural rubber purchases. Sri Lanka's RSS and TSR grades conform to ISO 2000.
Products: Natural rubber sheets, TSR/SLR grades.
Food, Coconut & Agricultural Products
FSSC 22000 — Food Safety System Certification
What it is: A globally recognised food safety management standard based on ISO 22000, with additional sector-specific prerequisite programmes.
What it means for buyers: GFSI-benchmarked standard — accepted by all major food retailers and manufacturers globally as proof of food safety management system rigour.
Products: Coconut milk powder, desiccated coconut, VCO, activated carbon for food grade.
What it means for buyers: GFSI-benchmarked standard — accepted by all major food retailers and manufacturers globally as proof of food safety management system rigour.
Products: Coconut milk powder, desiccated coconut, VCO, activated carbon for food grade.
USDA Organic / EU Organic
What it is: Government-backed organic certification programmes verifying that products are grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or GMOs.
What it means for buyers: Required for "organic" label claims in the US and EU markets. Chain-of-custody documentation from farm to finished product.
Products: VCO, desiccated coconut, coconut milk powder, black pepper, cinnamon.
What it means for buyers: Required for "organic" label claims in the US and EU markets. Chain-of-custody documentation from farm to finished product.
Products: VCO, desiccated coconut, coconut milk powder, black pepper, cinnamon.
Halal & Kosher Certification
What it is: Religious dietary compliance certifications verifying that products meet Islamic (Halal) and Jewish (Kosher) dietary requirements.
What it means for buyers: Required for access to Muslim-majority markets and Jewish dietary markets worldwide. Sri Lanka's food processors maintain certifications from recognised international certifying bodies.
Products: All food-grade products including coconut, spices, seafood, activated carbon.
What it means for buyers: Required for access to Muslim-majority markets and Jewish dietary markets worldwide. Sri Lanka's food processors maintain certifications from recognised international certifying bodies.
Products: All food-grade products including coconut, spices, seafood, activated carbon.
GI Protection — Ceylon Tea & Cinnamon
What it is: Geographical Indication (GI) protection certifies the geographical origin of specific products — Ceylon Tea (SLTB Lion Logo) and Ceylon Cinnamon are both GI protected.
What it means for buyers: Guarantees authentic Ceylon origin and protects against adulteration or misrepresentation. Highly valued in premium and specialty markets.
Products: Ceylon tea (Lion Logo), Ceylon cinnamon.
What it means for buyers: Guarantees authentic Ceylon origin and protects against adulteration or misrepresentation. Highly valued in premium and specialty markets.
Products: Ceylon tea (Lion Logo), Ceylon cinnamon.