Government moves to regulate chemicals used in fruit ripening

The Government has begun taking steps to regulate the use of toxic chemicals in fruit ripening following a rise in consumer complaints about chemically ripened fruit in the local market.

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe chaired a high-level meeting at the ministry on Monday to discuss immediate measures to prevent the use of harmful chemicals on fruits such as bananas, mangoes and guavas.

The meeting brought together Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon, senior CAA officials and representatives of several agricultural, food research, standards and technology institutions.

Samarasinghe said the CAA had received numerous complaints about traders using chemicals to ripen fruit before sale. Officials discussed the existing legal framework, enforcement difficulties and measures needed to stop the use of toxic substances.

The minister said the Government should take immediate regulatory and legal action to protect consumers, despite the absence of comprehensive long-term research on the health effects of consuming chemically ripened fruit.

He said the Government could also consider amending the Consumer Affairs Authority Act to strengthen enforcement.

Agricultural experts said commercial producers around the world used artificial ripening methods when they followed scientifically approved procedures. The Department of Agriculture already provides technical guidance and training on accepted ripening methods, but many traders continued to use simpler, unapproved techniques, they said.

Officials also noted that the Food Control Act prohibited chemicals and other solutions from coming into direct contact with fruit.

The meeting also considered expanding laboratory testing facilities available to the CAA to support future raids and identify traders using toxic chemicals in fruit ripening.