Functions & Services Offered Through NOCU

1. Regulatory Activities

Registration

As per the gazette notification published all the stakeholders in the organic agriculture value chain need to register with National Organic Control Unit for the purpose of regulation. An expert committee appointed by the NOCU will issue the registration to organically certified stakeholders.

Registration is now online.

Market Surveillance

It is important to do market surveillance to realize the products available in the market and to verify the availability of real organic products in the market. During the last three years, NOCU has jointly conducted market surveillance visits with the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). During such visits, it was identified that there are products in the local market that are not certified as per organic standards by an accredited certification body but are labeled as organic. It is the responsibility of NOCU to take action to make real organic products available in the market. The training was given to the officers in CAA on organic product certification before conducting the market surveillance audits.

Random Sample Analysis

NOCU has initiated a random sample analysis for the products available in the local market and is ready to export to verify that the products that are certified organic are in accordance with the standards. Samples drawn from the market were carried out with the Consumer Affairs Authority, and testing was conducted in accredited laboratory. CAA took action against the products, which are not in accordance with organic standards.

Stakeholder Visits

As it is our responsibility to ensure the all the organic stakeholders are in order to provide credible organic product to the both international and local market NOCU is doing stakeholder inspection to all stakeholders and ensure their organic integrity.

Monitoring the Activities of Organic Certification Bodies

Certification bodies are one of the major component in organic agriculture value chain where they are issuing a third party accredited organic certification bodies to the stakeholders. To ensure that they are in order NOCU is monitoring all the activities of accredited certification bodies

Regulation of the National Organic Certification Mark (NOCM)

In order to build trust amongst consumers and to provide an assurance of quality and standardization, the NOCU has introduced the guidelines to use the National Organic Certification Mark (NOCM), which can only be issued to organic producers after their produce has been certified by certification bodies that are accredited by the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB). Control Union Inspections (Pvt.) Ltd, Ind-Expo Certification Ltd and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) are the only three accredited certification bodies that are presently operating in Sri Lanka.

NOCU is the sole, absolute owner of this certification mark, and NOCU is granting licenses to certification bodies to issue NOCM. NOCU has introduced the guideline to these certification bodies and to the users of the certification mark.

2. Educational and Awareness Programmes

NOCU has made arrangements to conduct a series of awareness programs for the general public, government officers who are directly involved in the agriculture sector, and development officers during the last few years with the participation of resource persons from the DOA, SLSI, Control Union Inspection (pvt) Ltd., DOEA, etc. in online and offline methods.

A promotional video was created with the aim of promoting Sri Lanka's organic agriculture sector in the international market and creating awareness among local consumers.

 

3.  Assistance Programmes

From 2019 onwards, NOCU has implemented assistance programs to certify farmer groups as per international standards and individual farmers, processors, and input producers as per the National Organic Standard.

The main objective of the farmer group certification is to comply with the new EU regulation, which requires independent farmer groups to operate in the country.

Implement the SLS organic certification scheme is to make certified organic products available in the local market, where we can see the possibility of reaching international markets with the National Organic Standard.

 

4. Strengthen the Supply of Credible Inputs

NOCU has identified the importance of strengthening the supply chain of credible organic input which is vital for ensuring the integrity of organic products and sustainable agricultural practices.

NOCU has addressed this issue and use some strategies to enhance the credibility of organic inputs in the supply chain:

•	Assist local organic fertilizer manufacturers and local seed manufacturers to get organic certificate as per Sri Lankan national organic standard SLS 1324:2018.
•	Coordinate with other relevant institute to increase the availability of organic seeds for cultivation
•	Coordinate with Department of Agriculture to provide necessary technology  to prepare organic inputs

 

 

5. Strengthen the Service Offered by the Testing Laboratories Established in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has more than 40 accredited testing laboratories and several agricultural testing laboratories analyze soil and crop samples to assess soil fertility, nutrient levels, and potential contamination, contributing to agricultural productivity and sustainability. Those laboratories are having facilities to tests agrochemical residue, heavy metals, toxins etc.

To strengthen the service offered by testing laboratories established in Sri Lanka, various strategies can be implemented to enhance their efficiency, accuracy, and overall quality. NOCU is working to increase the scope of accreditation of the testing laboratories

 

6. Develop Digital Connectivity of Stakeholders

Developing digital connectivity among organic stakeholders can significantly enhance collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and market access in the organic industry.