Ceylon Cinnamon receives GI Certification

The European Union (EU) handed over the Geographical Indication (GI) certification to Ceylon Cinnamon, as Sri Lanka’s first GI-certified product. Geographical Indication, which protects the name and trademark of a special product identified with a particular region and production practice, will differentiate Ceylon Cinnamon from other cinnamons of lower quality and provide a competitive advantage.

The GI application was made by Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and supported by the EU under the EU-Sri Lanka Trade-Related Assistance Project and through technical assistance from UNIDO and the International Trade Centre (ITC). This, together with support from other private and public stakeholders, has been instrumental in achieving Sri Lanka’s first GI certification.

As part of obtaining the GI status, the Ceylon Cinnamon Geographical Indication Association (CCGIA) was established representing all the stakeholders in the cinnamon industry in the country. The responsibility of the CCGIA is to implement an internal control mechanism to monitor its members meeting the specifications stated in the GI specification document.

GI is not only about linking a product to a place; it is about recognizing the skill and achievement of the people who produce it. In the case of Ceylon Cinnamon, it is an endorsement of the quality and an acknowledgment of the long tradition and rich history behind the production of this internationally renowned spice.

GI registration has the purpose to differentiate Ceylon Cinnamon in the EU market from its substitutes of lower quality. GI will act as a source of a competitive advantage which will help to increase market differentiation, product turnover and allow for a premium price from the consumer. An enhanced competitive position of Ceylon Cinnamon in the EU market will have a positive impact in terms of an increase in exports for Sri Lanka, higher income, and employment generation across the cinnamon value chain, benefiting about 30,000 stakeholders involved in cinnamon production and processing. This achievement could not have come at a more fitting time than now when increasing Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings is more important than ever before.

Sri Lanka is the world’s largest producer and exporter of True Cinnamon, accounting for 90% of the global market share. Although there are many varieties of Cinnamon, still Ceylon Cinnamon is pure and considered superior due to its medicinal properties and health benefits. In 2021, Sri Lanka earned around USD 230 million through Cinnamon exports.