Sri Lanka Rejects Guntur Chilli Shipments

Sri Lanka has rejected dozens of chilli consignments exported from Guntur, citing excessive aflatoxin and moisture levels. Andhra Pradesh is India’s leading chilli-exporting state, with traders procuring produce from the Guntur market for domestic and international markets. Since July, several containers sent to Sri Lanka through Chennai Port have been rejected after samples were tested by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). Laboratory reports reportedly found aflatoxin and moisture levels above permissible limits, with excessive moisture causing fungal growth in some consignments and affecting their quality.

The rejected consignments have created financial difficulties for exporters, who are now travelling to Sri Lanka and holding discussions with officials to find a solution. Traders have also raised the issue with Spice Board authorities. Officials said quality standards are mandatory from a public-health perspective and that laboratory reports can take around two weeks after the consignments reach Sri Lanka. Traders are concerned that bringing rejected cargo back to India, repacking it and selling it locally is also proving difficult. Spice Board officials have attributed such quality issues to excessive pesticide use during cultivation and inadequate post-harvest management, urging farmers to adopt proper practices during both cultivation and storage.