Govt. scraps import permit requirement for wheat flour

• Siyambalapitiya assures policy transformation would not translate into hike in wheat flour prices 

The Government has abolished the permit system previously required for the importation of wheat flour from Tuesday. 

“This decision marks a move towards streamlining trade regulations and enhancing accessibility in the wheat flour market,” State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told journalists in Ruwanwella yesterday. 

He also highlighted that the import tax on wheat flour underwent an adjustment, increasing from Rs. 16 to Rs. 27 per kilogram and an additional tax of Rs. 6 will be imposed on wheat kernels.

Siyambalapitiya assured the public that this policy transformation would not translate into a hike in wheat flour prices. He also clarified that the main objective of these adjustments is to implement import controls on wheat flour, rather than burdening consumers with escalated prices. 

The recent development follows a notable progression in June when wheat flour was officially classified as a ‘specified good’, aligning with the provisions outlined in the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act. This legal categorisation signified a strategic move to regulate and govern the pricing and distribution of wheat flour, enhancing consumer protection and market stability.