The Chinese company embroiled in a controversy with Sri Lanka over imported fertizer, has demanded USD 8 million from the Additional Director of the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) for the loss and damage caused to the company.
In a Letter of Demand (LOD) sent to Dr W.A.R.T Wickramaarachchi, Additional Director of the National Plant Quarantine Service of the Department of Agriculture, Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd says failure to pay the said sum in 3 days would result in legal action.
In the LOD sent through its local lawyers, Seawin Biotech said that the National Plant Quarantine Service conducted several purported tests on samples of solid organic fertlizer supplied and/or to be supplied by the Chinese company under two contracts reached with Ceylon Fertilizer Co. Ltd and Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd respectively.
However, the National Plant Quarantine Service issued a test report stating that the fertilizer was found to be highly contaminated with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and that the preliminary studies have revealed that bacteria to be Bacillus spp. and Erwinia spp. which can be pathogenic to plants.
The National Plant Quarantine Service has issued a further report dated 27th September 2021 under the signature of the Additional Director stating inter alia that such samples are suspected to be contaminated with several bacterial species including Erwinia.
Subsequently, a final report dated 4th October 2021 also issued under the signature of the Additional Director, has stated that samples drawn from load port and the production line “were contaminated with soft-rot causing Erwinia spp” upon carrying out a purported pathogenicity test thereon.
“Therefore, I am instructed to inform you that inter alia the contents of your aforementioned test report to the effect that the samples of my client’s subject product contains Erwinia is incorrect and that such erroneous conclusion has been reached by you due to your negligent conduct inter alia by not complying or conforming with the testing and/or isolation set out in International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) diagnostic protocols for regulated pests,” lawyers said in the LOD
The LOD states that the alleged negligent conduct has had drastic and dire consequences to the Chinese company, its business and reputation.
“I am further instructed to state that due to such negligent conduct on your part my client has suffered significant loss and damage in a sum of USO 8 Million and continues to suffer further loss and damage due to loss of reputation and goodwill as well as existing and potential business,” the LOD said.
The Chinese company warned that in the event Wickramaarachchi fails to accede to the above demand then action will be taken against him in his personal capacity to recover the aforementioned damages.
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette
