The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has seized more than 1,400 plastic bottles and baby feeding bottles that failed to comply with required legal standards during a special island-wide inspection programme.

The operation, conducted last week, involved a total of 144 inspections, including 96 inspections targeting reusable plastic bottles and 48 involving baby feeding bottles.

Under Order No. 96 published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2456/42 dated October 1, 2025, the SLS 1616 standard has been applicable to reusable plastic bottles since April 1, 2026. Meanwhile, baby feeding bottles manufactured using polymer materials are required to comply with the SLS 1306 standard.

The regulations also require locally manufactured products covered by these standards to carry the SLS product certification mark issued by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

However, the SLS mark is not mandatory for imported products. Such products must instead undergo inspection by the SLSI and receive approval for sale in Sri Lanka.

Authorities are also examining bills and invoices under Order No. 83 to trace the origin of the products. Further investigations will extend across the entire supply chain, from retailers to importers and manufacturers, the CAA noted.

The CAA has urged consumers to check for the SLS certification mark when purchasing locally manufactured products. However, consumers have been advised not to assume that an imported product is illegal simply because it does not carry the SLS mark.

Traders and importers have also been instructed to ensure that their products comply with the relevant standards and legal requirements before placing them on the market.

Consumers who have information about suspected non-compliant products can contact the Consumer Affairs Authority on the short hotline 1977 during office hours.