Botanical name for Ceylon Cinnamon stands

'Dept. of Export Agriculture too should fall in line':

by Surekha Galagoda
 

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The Spice Council, Ceylon Cinnamon Association and the cinnamon industry/trade has taken action to preserve the botanical name for Ceylon Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum blume.

Immediate Past Chairman of the Spice Council Sarada De Silva said that over the years they have made representations to the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of International Trade, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Export Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, National Council, Economic Development, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, World Customs Organisation, American Spice Traders' Association, International Organisation of Spice Trading Associations and European Spice Association to protect the botanical name.

For centuries the cinnamon industry/trade has always used Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume in promotional, trading and exporting Ceylon Cinnamon. Cinnamon has been traded for over 100 years as Ceylon Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume being the botanical name and not by any other name.

The World Customs Orgnisation (WCO) has accepted Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume as the botanical name for Ceylon Cinnamon in the Harmonised Code commodity classification (H.S.Code). Even after the bifurcation Cinnamon from Cassia in the H.S. code, the botanical name Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume remains the same.

The Department of Plant Quarantine has accepted Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume as the botanical name for Ceylon Cinnamon and issued quarantine certificates (PSC) for years.

The Bureau of Ceylon Standards (now SLSI) in its standard 249 of 1973 for Cinnamon has used Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume as the botanical name.The Export Development Board since its inception has been using Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume as the botanical name for Ceylon Cinnamon.

De Silva said that only the Department of Export Agriculture needs to be convinced to conserve the Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume as the botanical name for Ceylon Cinnamon and change it in their website and in all their publications as they now use the botanical name as Cinnamomum Veerum which is not beneficial for us.

A spokeswomen for the Department of Export Agriculture said that the botanical name of cinnamon is Cinnamomum Veerum and they correctly use the name. "Zeylanicum" is used for all endemic Sri Lankan plants, but Cinnamomum Veerum is the botanical name of Cinnamon, she said.

At the request of the current Chairman of the Spice Council a meeting held on January 25, 2008 at which Hemakumara Nanayakkara reviewed the progress and wanted the committee to expedite matters. At this meeting it was decided to request all exporters to include the name Ceylon Cinnamon and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in all bales and packages when exporting cinnamon.