India, the leading global producer, consumer, and exporter of spices, has requested information from the food safety authorities in Singapore and Hong Kong following the ban of specific spices from Indian brands MDH and Everest due to quality concerns. The Indian Commerce Ministry has instructed its embassies in these regions to provide comprehensive reports on this issue.
Additionally, the Ministry has demanded details from the companies involved, MDH and Everest, regarding their products, which have been banned for purportedly containing the pesticide ‘ethylene oxide’ beyond the allowed limits.
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The Indian Commerce Ministry, taking a proactive stance, has asked for explanations from the companies. They are keen to understand the cause of the rejection and what corrective measures will be taken in collaboration with the exporters.
The official further noted that technical data, analytical reports, and information about the exporters whose shipments were rejected are being gathered from the embassies in Singapore and Hong Kong. The Ministry is also seeking insights from the Singapore Food Agency, the Centre for Food Safety, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong.
In addition, the ministry official announced an upcoming industry consultation to discuss the requirement for mandatory ethylene oxide testing in spice exports to Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Spices Board of India, in a bid to resolve the issue, is actively investigating the ban imposed by Hong Kong and Singapore on four spice-mix products from MDH and Everest. The Food Safety Authority in Hong Kong has advised consumers against purchasing these products, and in Singapore, there is an ongoing recall of the affected products.
In the 2022-23 fiscal year, India exported spices valued at nearly ₹32,000 crores, including chili, cumin, spice oils, oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder, and cardamom.
