Report

The Spices Board, in collaboration with FSSAI and other regulatory bodies, is tightening food safety regulations in India’s spice industry. Secretary P. Hemalatha announced measures to introduce more stringent rules, including mandatory ethylene oxide (ETO) testing for EU exports, ensuring higher compliance and safety standards.

Global Standards and Food Safety Compliance

To harmonize global spice standards, the Spices Board actively participates in the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs, helping reduce technical barriers and facilitating smoother trade. These efforts aim to enhance food safety while ensuring that Indian spices meet international quality benchmarks. The industry is increasingly adopting modern technologies like IoT, blockchain, and robotics to improve traceability and operational efficiency. These innovations strengthen food safety, ensuring Indian spices are transparent and meet global safety demands.

Commitment to Sustainability and Health

The Spices Board is also focusing on sustainability, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, and investing in R&D for nutraceuticals and health-focused spices. This includes research into the medicinal properties of turmeric, ginger, and garlic, ensuring that spices are not only safe but also beneficial to consumers’ health.

With these efforts, India continues to lead the global spice market, maintaining a 25% share and growing its spice export value to $10 billion by 2030.

Source: The Hindu