Sri Lanka, Aug. 21 -- The Government is planning to introduce a certification programme to ensure that fruits sold in the local market are free from harmful chemical residues, while measures are also being considered to promote safe fruit-ripening practices.

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe instructed officials to identify fruit-ripening facilities operating under hygienic conditions and develop a mechanism to certify them at a special discussion held at the Ministry yesterday (20).

The programme is also expected to promote the establishment of technical facilities where fruits can be ripened safely without the use of toxic chemicals.

The Minister stressed that all stakeholders ...