CAC adopts Codex norms for three spices:

CAC adopts Codex norms for three spices:

Context:

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme paving the way for a universal agreement on identifying quality spices in various countries. Introduction:

• The CAC cleared these standards at its session held in Geneva.
• The number of spices and culinary herbs is very large –although only 109 spices are notified in the International organisation for Standardisation (ISO) list.
• India, which is a major producer and exporter of these spices, played a key role in pushing the entry of these commodities to have Codex standards.
• It was in 2013 that the need for Codex standards for spices and herbs became a matter of concern.
• Spices Board of India submitted to CAC a proposal for such an exclusive committee for spices and culinary herbs.

Meaning of Codex Alimentarius:

• The Codex Alimentarius or “Food Code” is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

Impacts:

• It will pave the way for a universal agreement on identifying quality spices in various countries.
• The adoption of Codex standards for the three spices will help to evolve a common standardisation process for their global trade and availability.
• With the adoption of Codex standards, member-nations would now have reference points and benchmarks to align their national standards for spices with Codex.
• It will bring harmony to the global spice trade and ensure availability of high quality, clean, and safe spices to the world.

Status in India:

• The CAC move is considered a crucial endorsement of the India’s initiatives to usher in a common standard across the globe for spices trade.
• The adoption of Codex standards by CAC must be read in the context of the efforts put in by New Delhi in arriving at a common code for spices trade.
• India conducted three sessions of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) at Kochi (2014), Goa (2015) and Chennai (2017).
• The Chennai session especially succeeded in achieving this consensus.
• Subsequently, these drafts were placed before the CAC and the member-nations adopted them by consensus.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC):

• The codex Alimentarius Commision (CAC) is an intergovernmental body with over 180 countries, within a framework of the Joint Food Standard Programme established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The purpose of CAC is to protect the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.
• The Commission also promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Conclusion: It may be a small initiative considering the number of commodities waiting in the ranks for the standardization process. But still it is very heartening that spices have made a definitive entry into the league of commodities having Codex standards, and India played a key role in achieving this objective.