Elpitiya Estates globally benchmarked for food safety

Friday, 11 March 2011 01:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Talgaswella and Deviturai estates of Elpitiya Plantations, owned and managed by Aitken Spence Plantations, have been awarded the ISO 22000 food safety certificate this month.

From Left : B.A Sumanasiri – S.G.S Lanka, Jagath Gomez – Assistant Manager Divitura Estate, Deleepa Samaranayaka - Senior Asst Manager, Nalin Rathnayaka – Manager Divitura Estate, Tony Gunawardhana - C.E.O Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Geeth Kumara- General Manager Cluster 11/ Low Country, Prasanna Kodithuwakku- Assistant Manager Talgaswaella, N.Sriram- S.G.S Lanka

ISO 22000 specifies requirements to enable an organization to plan, implement, operate, maintain and update a food safety management system aimed at providing products that, according to their intended use, are safe for the consumer.

Elpitiya Plantations is please to have received this certificate as it proves that the organization has effectively communicated food safety issues to their suppliers, customers and relevant interested parties in the food chain.

Elpitiya Plantations PLC consists of 13 estates, situated in the upper, middle and low country regions

.These estates cultivate tea, rubber, oil palm and coconut.

Talgaswella & Deviturai low grown estates produce more that 1.2 mn tea per annum. These plantations cater to the Middle Eastern and Russian markets and are known for producing leafy teas which are stylish and neater in appearance.

A few commendable initiatives of the estates owned by Aitken Spence Plantations would include Deviturai estate hitting a record of Rs 700 for Latex Crepe 1X in February, which was the highest economy price ever recorded for Latex Crepe 1X rubber in Sri Lankan history.

The fact that Dunsinane, New Peacock and Nayapana estates have received the ISO 22000 food safety certificate is also creditable.