National Programme Launched to Provide Children with Chemical-Free Fruits

A special national programme titled “Chemical-Free Fruits for Children” has been announced to protect consumers and children from the harmful effects of artificially ripening fruits using unsafe chemicals and improper methods.

A special media briefing was held at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development in conjunction with World Children’s Day to raise awareness about the measures to be implemented through the Consumer Affairs Authority and other institutions under the ministry.

The main objective of the media briefing was to announce a national programme focused on ensuring that children have access to quality fruits free from harmful substances.

The ministry also briefed the media on the current progress of regulations introduced regarding the use of plastic lunch boxes, water bottles and baby feeding bottles, as part of efforts to safeguard the health of the country’s future generations.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe said plans had been prepared for a large-scale programme under the theme “Chemical-Free Fruits for Children.”

He said the programme would be implemented according to a specific timeline and called on farmers and everyone involved in the fruit-related industry to provide children with fruits free from harmful substances.

The minister said the programme also aims to restore consumer confidence and stressed that regulations relating to plastic food containers, water bottles and baby feeding bottles would be strictly implemented.

He further said arrangements were being made to issue certification to fruit shops across the country and that inspections and raids would commence from April.

Ministry Secretary K.A. Wimalenthira Raja said children should be provided with the best possible products and that the programme was being implemented to help create a healthier future generation.

Representatives from the Consumer Affairs Authority, Sri Lanka Standards Institution, Institute of Postharvest Technology, Fruit Research and Development Institute in Horana–Kanewila, Sri Lanka Association of Nutrition Physicians and the Food Control Administration Unit, among other government institutions, also participated in the media briefing.

Officials and experts who attended included Hemantha Samarakoon, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority; Professor Rohitha Prashantha, Chairman of the Institute of Postharvest Technology; Manoji Bulathkandage of the Fruit Research and Development Institute; Dr. Neville Amunugoda, Director of the Food Development Division of the Industrial Technology Institute; Nirmala Soysa, Acting Director of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution; Nihal Premaratne, Assistant Director of the Food Control Administration Unit; and Dr. Jayani Tennakoon, a nutrition specialist representing the Sri Lanka Association of Nutrition Physicians.