New Delhi: India needs to address the quality issue with respect to its spice exports with urgency and transparency as ongoing quality concerns are putting more than half of the country's spice shipments at risk, a report said on Wednesday. Can put.
Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that every day new countries are raising concerns about the quality of Indian spices.
It added that this issue demands immediate attention and action to maintain the prestigious reputation of India's famous spice garden. “At stake is exports worth approximately US$700 million to important markets, widespread in many countries. With more than half of India's total spice exports facing potential loss due to regulatory actions, the integrity and future of India's spice trade is in delicate balance." The report said.
It said India needs to address quality issues with urgency and transparency.It said, "Prompt investigation and publication of findings is essential to re-establish global confidence in Indian spices. Companies at fault should face immediate consequences."Hong Kong and Singapore have banned the use of the carcinogenic chemical ethylene in their products. Banned the sale of popular brands MDH and Everest after detection of oxides. This led to a mandatory recall from shelves.
The report said the primary violations in these incidents included the presence of ethylene oxide, a carcinogen used as a fumigating agent, and Salmonella contamination, a common bacterial cause of foodborne illness.“This situation could worsen if the EU, which regularly rejects Indian spice consignments over quality issues, also does the same. Rejection by the EU could impact an additional USD 2.5 billion This will bring the total potential loss of India's worldwide spice exports to 58.8 per cent," GTR co-founder Ajit Srivastava said. Citing some reports, GTRI said the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and now Male Questions have been raised over the quality of spices supplied by major Indian companies MDH and Everest Spices.
Srivastava said that India has exported spices worth about US $ 692.5 million to these countries in FY 2024, due to which the risk has increased significantly."If China, influenced by actions in Hong Kong and ASEAN based on the precedent set by Singapore, decides to implement similar measures, Indian spice exports could see a dramatic decline. The potential outcome could be US$2.17 billion. This could impact exports worth $51.1 per cent of India's global spice exports," he said. Srivastava said the response from Indian authorities so far has been tepid and formulaic.
Following international criticism, both the Spices Board and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) began regular sampling, yet no definitive statement about the quality of the spice has been issued by these or any other government agencies, he said.“The lack of clear communication is disappointing, especially given the extensive laws and procedures in place for quality assurance. Despite major companies like MDH and Everest denying any wrongdoing, their continued rejection by international bodies has led to the condemnation of both spices. Would have worried the Board and FSSAI long ago,” he said. He cautioned that if the quality of products from top Indian companies is questionable, it also raises doubts on the integrity of the spices available in the Indian market.
The GTRI report suggested that the overall situation requires a fundamental change in how India handles food safety – transparency, rigorous enforcement and clear communication are key to restoring and maintaining the integrity of its export and domestic products.It states that fundamental changes are needed in the functioning of quality controlling agencies. Spices are dried parts of plants, including seeds, roots, bark and fruits, which are used for their flavor, aroma or preservative properties. Importance is given to. Common examples include cloves, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cumin, and coriander. Spices enhance flavor, add color and sometimes mask undesirable odors, playing an essential role in global cuisine.
In 2023-24, India's spice exports were to total US$4.25 billion, accounting for 1 per cent of global spice exports.Major spices exported from India include chilli powder, which tops the list with exports worth US$ 1.3 billion, followed by cumin at US$ 550 million, turmeric at US$ 220 million, cardamom at US$ 130 million, mixed Spices worth US$110 million and spice oils. and oleoresin at US$1 billion. Other notable exports were asafoetida, saffron, fennel, nutmeg, mace, cloves, cinnamon.
On the import front, India purchased spices worth US$1.5 billion, with the largest imports being spice oils and oleoresins at US$354 million, cinnamon and cassia at US$270 million, coriander and cumin at US$210 million, nutmeg at US$118 million and Are included. Asafoetida at USD 110 million.The primary markets for Indian spices were China, which imported spices worth US$928 million, the US at US$574 million and Bangladesh at US$339 million. Other important buyers included the UAE (US$256 million), Thailand ( These include India (US$ 19 million), Malaysia (US$ 147 million), Indonesia (US$ 137 million), UK (US$ 12 million), Australia (US$ 63 million), Singapore (US$ 63 million). 50 million), Hong Kong (US$5.5 million).
World spice trade is worth US$35 billion in 2023. China is the top exporter with exports expected to reach US$8 billion in 2023.The top exports according to GTRI are chilli powder (US$2.4 billion), ginger, turmeric (US$2. billion), fresh and dried garlic (US$1.6 billion), coriander and cumin (US$800 million).
Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that every day new countries are raising concerns about the quality of Indian spices.
It added that this issue demands immediate attention and action to maintain the prestigious reputation of India's famous spice garden. “At stake is exports worth approximately US$700 million to important markets, widespread in many countries. With more than half of India's total spice exports facing potential loss due to regulatory actions, the integrity and future of India's spice trade is in delicate balance." The report said.
It said India needs to address quality issues with urgency and transparency.It said, "Prompt investigation and publication of findings is essential to re-establish global confidence in Indian spices. Companies at fault should face immediate consequences."Hong Kong and Singapore have banned the use of the carcinogenic chemical ethylene in their products. Banned the sale of popular brands MDH and Everest after detection of oxides. This led to a mandatory recall from shelves.
The report said the primary violations in these incidents included the presence of ethylene oxide, a carcinogen used as a fumigating agent, and Salmonella contamination, a common bacterial cause of foodborne illness.“This situation could worsen if the EU, which regularly rejects Indian spice consignments over quality issues, also does the same. Rejection by the EU could impact an additional USD 2.5 billion This will bring the total potential loss of India's worldwide spice exports to 58.8 per cent," GTR co-founder Ajit Srivastava said. Citing some reports, GTRI said the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and now Male Questions have been raised over the quality of spices supplied by major Indian companies MDH and Everest Spices.
Srivastava said that India has exported spices worth about US $ 692.5 million to these countries in FY 2024, due to which the risk has increased significantly."If China, influenced by actions in Hong Kong and ASEAN based on the precedent set by Singapore, decides to implement similar measures, Indian spice exports could see a dramatic decline. The potential outcome could be US$2.17 billion. This could impact exports worth $51.1 per cent of India's global spice exports," he said. Srivastava said the response from Indian authorities so far has been tepid and formulaic.
Following international criticism, both the Spices Board and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) began regular sampling, yet no definitive statement about the quality of the spice has been issued by these or any other government agencies, he said.“The lack of clear communication is disappointing, especially given the extensive laws and procedures in place for quality assurance. Despite major companies like MDH and Everest denying any wrongdoing, their continued rejection by international bodies has led to the condemnation of both spices. Would have worried the Board and FSSAI long ago,” he said. He cautioned that if the quality of products from top Indian companies is questionable, it also raises doubts on the integrity of the spices available in the Indian market.
The GTRI report suggested that the overall situation requires a fundamental change in how India handles food safety – transparency, rigorous enforcement and clear communication are key to restoring and maintaining the integrity of its export and domestic products.It states that fundamental changes are needed in the functioning of quality controlling agencies. Spices are dried parts of plants, including seeds, roots, bark and fruits, which are used for their flavor, aroma or preservative properties. Importance is given to. Common examples include cloves, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cumin, and coriander. Spices enhance flavor, add color and sometimes mask undesirable odors, playing an essential role in global cuisine.
In 2023-24, India's spice exports were to total US$4.25 billion, accounting for 1 per cent of global spice exports.Major spices exported from India include chilli powder, which tops the list with exports worth US$ 1.3 billion, followed by cumin at US$ 550 million, turmeric at US$ 220 million, cardamom at US$ 130 million, mixed Spices worth US$110 million and spice oils. and oleoresin at US$1 billion. Other notable exports were asafoetida, saffron, fennel, nutmeg, mace, cloves, cinnamon.
On the import front, India purchased spices worth US$1.5 billion, with the largest imports being spice oils and oleoresins at US$354 million, cinnamon and cassia at US$270 million, coriander and cumin at US$210 million, nutmeg at US$118 million and Are included. Asafoetida at USD 110 million.The primary markets for Indian spices were China, which imported spices worth US$928 million, the US at US$574 million and Bangladesh at US$339 million. Other important buyers included the UAE (US$256 million), Thailand ( These include India (US$ 19 million), Malaysia (US$ 147 million), Indonesia (US$ 137 million), UK (US$ 12 million), Australia (US$ 63 million), Singapore (US$ 63 million). 50 million), Hong Kong (US$5.5 million).
World spice trade is worth US$35 billion in 2023. China is the top exporter with exports expected to reach US$8 billion in 2023.The top exports according to GTRI are chilli powder (US$2.4 billion), ginger, turmeric (US$2. billion), fresh and dried garlic (US$1.6 billion), coriander and cumin (US$800 million).
