The export of fish products is governed by the Fish Products (Export) Regulations 1998 framed under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No.2 of 1996.

Note:

Fish products mean any aquatic organism whether piscine or not, and includes any shell fish, crustacean, pearl oyster, mollusc, holothurians and its young fry, egg or spawn.

A processor who wishes to export his products shall be registered with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Competent Authority. A basic requirement to be met to get registration is that the establishment shall establish and maintain a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System (HACCP system) to cover the products and processes concerned.

The registered establishments are monitored for continual maintenance of the system. These inspections are carried out by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution under the powers delegated by the Competent Authority in accordance with section 17 (1) of the Regulation through signing a MoU. The results of the inspections are notified to the Competent Authority to take necessary actions. The Competent Authority also carries out certain inspections and official sampling.

The frequency of inspections will for the first year be once in 02 months. The frequency of inspections will later be based on the rating of the nonconformities reported in the previous inspection.

Note:

Each nonconformity will be assigned a pre determined rating of 01 or 02 or 03.