Small businesses qualify for GMP certification
Ruwanthi Abeyakoon
Certification: The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the
Ministry of Science and Technology, will grant Good Manufacturing
Practice (GMP) certification for small businesses, Marketing and
Promotion Director, SLSI, Wasantha Meewaddana told the Daily News.
|
AFFORDABLE: small businesses to benefit from SLSI scheme |
"This is another step forward toward the development of small
entrepreneurs of the country, keeping in pace with the Mahinda Chinthana
Programme.
Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitarana launched the
Vidatha programme with a long-term vision to upgrade the small and
medium sector entrepreneurs supporting the development of country and
envisaging that they are the majority of our businesses. Supporting this
programme, SLSI assisted some selected small businesses toward GMP
certification.
Expenditure for the programme was partly sponsored by the Ministry,"
Meewaddana explained.
He added that SLSI currently operates ten certification schemes for
both products and management systems including GMP certification.
"GMP certification is granted to manufacturing or service systems of
organisations to certify that they engage with good manufacturing
practices in their manufacturing or service processes according to a
Standard Code of Practice related to their businesses.
The certification is recommended by SLSI mostly to small businesses
where other stringent systems are not affordable or product standards
are yet to be published for product certification," Meewaddana said.
"The twelve companies who will be receiving this certification engage
in different businesses including manufacturing of lime pickle, rasam,
goraka (garcinia) paste, dodol, dried string hoppers, dried vegetables,
yoghurt, seeni sambal, mushroom, manioc chips, banana chips, chillie
powder, kirala jam and drinks, peanut toffee, coconut oil, herbal tea
and ready to serve fruit drinks," he said.
"The main Code of Practice used when granting GMP certification for
the above twelve companies was SLS 143, the Sri Lanka Standard Code of
Practice for general principles of food hygiene. Some of these companies
will be subsequently upgraded to other certifications such as SLS Mark
or HACCP," Meewaddana added.
The 12 small businesses will be receiving GMP certification from the
Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitarana at the SLSI
auditorium on July 10.
The Chairman of SLSI, Dr. A.R.L. Wijesekera and the Director General
Shirani G. Weragoda will attend the awards ceremony. |
