Issues in India’s spices export

Source-This post on Issues in India’s spices export has been created based on the article “Why are Indian spices facing the heat?” published in “The Hindu” on 3 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context– Several countries, like Singapore, Hong Kong, and the U.S., are investigating potential contamination in spice mixes sold by Indian brands MDH and Everest. The concern is that these spice mixes may contain higher than allowed levels of ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical used to preserve food.

What are some of the health concerns regarding India’s export of spices?

1) Ethylene oxide is used as a sterilizing agent in food products, including spices, to reduce microbial contamination and extend shelf life.However,its improper and excessive use can leave behind toxic and carcinogenic residues.
MDH and Everest’s spice mixes are allegedly contaminated with high levels of EtO, which is associated with cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.

What are the steps taken by Spice Board of India to address this issue?

1) The Spice Board in India has initiated mandatory testing of consignments shipped to Singapore and Hong Kong, gathered analytical reports from relevant agencies, and proposed corrective measures to exporters.

2) Guidelines have been issued to exporters on preventing EtO contamination, including norms for testing, storage, and the use of alternative methods.

3) The FSSAI has directed state regulators to collect samples of major spice brands, including MDH and Everest, to test for EtO.

4) Activists have called for stringent safety checks and proper implementation of regulatory norms.

Read more- On India’s Agricultural Export Sector – Export potential

What are some of food safety challenges faced by India?

1) Operational challenges– This includes India’s diverse food landscape, lack of standardized record-keeping, intentional food fraud, and difficulties in tracing ingredients and assessing potential risks.

2) Logistic Barriers-This includes a lack of government or private notified food testing labs in at least 10 States/Union Territories as mandated under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.As per FSSAI Annual Report of 2021-22, there is uneven distribution of labs, insufficient food safety officers, and resource constraints.

3) Lack of transparency-FSSAI’s operations often lack transparency. This hinders efforts to meet safety standards, build accountability, and trust.

What is the potential impact of these investigation on Indias food exports?

1) India’s spice export industry that is worth around $700 million may get negatively impacted due to the current controversy over safety concerns.

2) If regulators in China, ASEAN countries, and the European Union also raise similar concerns, it could hurt Indian spice exports worth over $2.5 billion, which is around 58.8% of India’s total global spice exports.

3) Small companies, co-operatives, and farmers could face potential losses due to reduced prices by companies.

What should be the way forward?

1) The issue demands urgent attention to uphold the reputation of the entire spice trade ecosystem in India.

3) A recent CUTS report suggested updating India’s food safety standards to match international practices and providing better information to food companies to help them follow regulations more effectively.

Question for practice

What can be the potential impact of recent investigations on India’s food export? What steps should be taken by the government to address this issue?