Spices Board of India | 20 May 2024

Source: BL

Why in News?

The Spices Board of India has taken up the issue of setting limits for using Ethylene Oxide (ETO) in spices with CODEX, the international food standards body.

• This comes after certain branded spices exported by Indian companies to Hong Kong and Singapore were recalled due to concerns related to ETO contamination, followed by a ban by Nepal on the sale and import of certain spice-mix products due to similar concerns.

What is the Spices Board of India?

• About:
  • Spices Board was constituted on 26^th February 1987 under the Spices Board Act, 1986 with the merger of the erstwhile Cardamom Board (1968) and Spices Export Promotion Council (1960).
  • There are five statutory Commodity Boards under the Department of Commerce.
    • These Boards are responsible for production, development and export of tea, coffee, rubber, spices and tobacco.
  • It is responsible for the export promotion of the 52 scheduled spices and the development of Cardamom.
  • Spices Board is the flagship organisation for the development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices.
  • The Board is an international link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad.
• Issue of Ethylene Oxide (ETO):
  • ETO is a chemical used as a sterilizing agent in spices, but it is considered carcinogenic when used beyond certain limits.
    • While efforts are being made to prevent ETO contamination, the sample failure rate for Indian spice exports is less than 1% in major markets.
  • As of now, CODEX has not established a limit, and there is also no standardized ETO testing protocol available.
    • India has taken up with the CODEX committee the need for setting up limits for ETO usage as different countries have different limits.
  • The Spices Board released guidelines for exporters to prevent ETO contamination and ensure the safety of all markets.
    • It advises against using ETO as a sterilising agent for spices and suggests alternatives like steam sterilisation and irradiation.
  • Other countries like the US, New Zealand, and Australia have also raised concerns about the quality of some Indian spices and are determining if further action is needed.