Govt orders mandatory testing of spices exported to S’pore and Hong Kong

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Deeply embarrassed and stung by governments of Singapore and Hong Kong alleging that spices exported from India by two popular brands MDH and Everest contain excessive amounts of ethylene oxide (ETO), a pesticide that is known as a carcinogen, the Centre has decided to conduct testing of spices mandatorily before they are shipped to these two countries.

Recently, both countries have banned certain spices of these two brands and ordered quick removal of these from the store shelves.

The Centre took this decision on Wednesday, April 24.

The government also said that it will keep a strict vigil on spices exported to other countries and monitor consignments for the presence of ETO. The decision followed a meeting between officials of the Union, Spices Board and industry representatives.

According to the current practice, mandatory testing on spice exports to these countries are carried out for the presence of Aflatoxin (a carcinogen) and a dye (Sudan I-IV). Mandatory testing for ETO is carried out for consignments headed for the EU and the UK.

“We have put in place systems for mandatory ETO testing in spice consignments destined for Singapore and Hong Kong. We met industry before implementing the mandatory standards and sought the opinion of the exporter community,” an official told The Economic Times.

The government was goaded into action after Singapore alleged the presence of ETO at levels exceeding the permissible limit in Everest’s Fish Curry Masala. Soon after Hong Kong also said it detected the pesticide in three of MDH spices branded as Madras Curry Powder, Mixed Masala Powder and Sambhar Masala apart from Everest’s Fish Curry Masala.

Incidentally, India is one of the principal producers of spices in the world with a recorded harvest of the 75 of the 109 varieties registered under the International Organisation for Standardisation.

The most popular spice exports from this country include chilli, pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, nutmeg and mace, curry powder, spice oils and oleoresins.