1. Scope

This Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”) governs how all visitors, Buyers, and Vendors may use SriLankaExport.com. It supplements our Terms of Service and forms a binding part of your relationship with Harker International.

2. Prohibited Conduct — All Users

• Illegality. Using the platform for any purpose that violates the laws of Sri Lanka, the destination country, your home country, or applicable international law.
• Fraud and impersonation. Misrepresenting your identity, business, or capacity. Creating accounts using false identification.
• Harassment. Threatening, abusive, or intimidating communications with other users or our team.
• IP infringement. Posting content that infringes copyright, trademarks, patents, or geographical indications (see IP Policy).
• Counterfeit or misrepresented goods. Listing goods misrepresented as the products of another brand or as a different grade/quality than supplied.
• Money laundering or sanctions evasion. See our AML Policy and Export Compliance Policy.

3. Prohibited Technical Conduct

• Automated scraping of the catalogue, vendor pages, or product database without our written permission. The robots.txt directives apply; rate-limited human research is fine.
• Bulk inquiry abuse. Sending the same inquiry to many Vendors with no genuine sourcing intent (a tactic used to harvest price data).
• Bypassing verification by creating multiple accounts, using disposable email, or falsifying business documents.
• Security probing. Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, or any attempt to access non-public parts of the platform without our prior written authorisation.
• Spam / unsolicited marketing using contact details obtained from Vendor or Buyer profiles.
• Interference with the operation of the platform — denial-of-service, mass-mail floods, deliberate cart-stuffing.

4. Prohibited Conduct — Vendors Specifically

• Fake reviews on your own store; coercing or incentivising reviews.
• Listing goods you do not produce or licence (drop-shipping of third-party products without disclosure).
• Mis-grading or mis-classifying goods to evade certification or customs scrutiny.
• Off-platform diversion of Buyers prior to order placement.
• Misrepresenting your EDB registration status or certification holdings.

5. Prohibited Conduct — Buyers Specifically

• Submitting requests for samples with no purchase intent (“sample milling”).
• Coordinating fake disputes or chargebacks to extract refunds for delivered goods.
• Threatening negative reviews to extract pricing concessions.
• Re-export or onward sale that breaches the agreed end-use or destination.

6. Reporting Violations

Substantiated reports are reviewed within 5 business days. We may take a range of actions including warning, content removal, temporary suspension, or permanent account termination. We may also report criminal conduct to relevant authorities.

7. Appeals

If your account is suspended or content removed, you may appeal by replying to the action notice within 14 days, providing evidence to rebut the finding. Appeals are decided by a person not involved in the original action.