Spices Board points tips to exporters to stop ethylene oxide contamination

The Spices Board has provide you with detailed tips for exporters on stopping Ethylene Oxide (ETO) contamination in spices after Singapore and Hong Kong recalled some packaged spice merchandise exported from India whereas the US and Australia are additionally analyzing the matter.

The rules advise exporters towards utilizing ETO as a sterilising agent to scale back the microbial contamination in spices consignments and suggests options corresponding to steam sterilisation and irradiation (not relevant to natural merchandise beneath NPOP).

  • Additionally learn: Spices maker MDH says its merchandise secure for consumption, obtained no communication from Hong Kong or Singapore
Residue limits

The Spices Board has additionally offered the Most Residue Limits (MRL) for ETO permitted in main markets, together with the EU, the UK, the US, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey within the tips. CODEX–the worldwide normal setting physique beneath WHO and FAO–has not fastened any MRLs for spices.

“The Spices Board has obtained stories from Indian Missions overseas concerning the recall/rejection of spices exported from India by just a few importing international locations by way of Singapore, Hong Kong, because of the presence of ETO past the permissible restrict. The Board, after detailed discussions with the Indian spice trade, has ready a set of tips on stopping ETO contamination in spices exported from India,”  the round issued to all export organisations on Tuesday factors out.

High quality considerations might threaten over half of India’s spice exports, per an evaluation achieved by analysis physique World Commerce Analysis Initiative (GTRI). “Stories from the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and now Malé have raised questions in regards to the high quality of spices equipped by main Indian corporations MDH and Everest spices. With India having exported spices valued at roughly $692.5 million to those international locations within the fiscal 12 months 2024, the stakes are excessive,” stated Ajay Srivastava, Co-founder, GTRI.

Responding to businessline’semailed question, Meals Requirements Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) said, “FSANZ is working with our worldwide counterparts to grasp the difficulty with federal, state and territory meals enforcement businesses to find out if additional motion is required in Australia (e.g. a meals recall).” At this stage, there have been no remembers issued in Australia,” it added.

  • Additionally learn: Spices Board mandates testing of exports to Hong Kong, Singapore 

India exported spices value $3.95 billion in 2022-23, per the Spices Board.

  • Additionally learn: Beneath Scanner: Everest Spices says meals security high precedence, merchandise endure stringent high quality checks
The impression

If China and the EU, the 2 main markets for Indian spices, additionally undertake stricter scrutiny, the full potential loss to India’s spice exports could be 58.8 per cent, the GTRI report estimated.

The rules additionally proposed measures to stop microbiological cross-contamination, applicable packaging, cautious transportation to make sure safety from any of the exterior adversarial environmental components and cautious dealing with of samples for testing.



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