China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd which shipped organic fertilizer to Sri Lanka in a letter said it ‘strongly recommend’ to test a fertilizer sample again with a third party to eliminate ‘misunderstanding’ following its fertilizer stock was rejected for containing harmful pathogen by Sri Lankan authorities.
The company had sent the letter to Director General of Agriculture Prof. Ajantha de Silva on 22 October and said that it will also be beneficial to all parties involved.
“As contract agreement, the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) nominated third party test agent- Schutter Group drew samples from loading. Port warehouse and issued us test report to prove that our products are qualified. And after plant quarantine from China Customs, we shipped our products to Sri Lanka an Sept 23, and today it will arrive at Colombo Port.
Our product is produced with 600 ‘C sterilization process, using raw material Seaweed, Amino Acid, Humic Acid. It has been tested as qualified by Schutter Group, China Customs, and also SLSI. Technical center of Qingdao Customs tested our product according to scientific test method in IPPC and test result is free from Erwinia. But due to some testing methodology misunderstanding, the test result of NPQ Sri Lanka is that our product is suspected to be contaminated by Erwinia. About the non-compliance emailed by NPO Sri Lanka, China NPQ has replied separately with clarification and consultation in technical testing on Oct 14, and OCT 21.”
The company said that it is very confident about the product,
So to avoid misunderstanding caused by different test method, we apply to draw a new sample from the bulk cargo on board and send it to a third-party testing agent recognized by both parties to retest and confirm whether the product is contaminated by Erwinia spp according to scientific and reasonable testing methods. The CTO of our company will also participate in the synchronous testing of samples in NPQ or other suitable laboratories in Sri Lanka to eliminate disputes, it suggested.
The company said that it hopes that they can promote bilateral friendly trade between the two countries together.
The company had copied the letter to several high profile persons including President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Agriculture State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa.
