CAC adopts universal standards for three spices

Global food standard-setting body Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) have adopted universal standards for three spices - black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme - a move that will help India in promoting trade of these commodities, the commerce ministry said today.
In a meeting in Geneva last week, the CAC adopted three Codex standards for these spices.
The Codex standards ensure that food is safe and can be traded in global markets.
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.
Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the adoption of these standards will imply that there will be now reference points and benchmarks for the 188 CAC member-countries for trade of these spices.

"In a major recognition of India's efforts to benchmark global spices trade, the CAC has adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme," the ministry said in a statement.

Adoption of Codex standards for the spices will facilitate evolving a common standardisation process for their global trade and availability.
"These spices have been included for the first time as commodities that will have such universal standards. The move will bring harmony to the global spice trade and ensure availability of high quality, clean and safe spices to the world," she said.
The number of spices and culinary herbs is very large - although only 109 spices are notified in the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) list.

It was in 2013 that the need for Codex standards for spices and herbs became a matter of concern, owing to the increased level of issues in spice trade.
At that time, there was no Codex committee exclusively for spices and culinary herbs.
Spices Board India submitted to CAC a proposal for such an exclusive committee for spices and culinary herbs.
The ministry said that historically, the developed countries, being the major importers of spices, have always insisted on unreasonably strict standards, which have had adverse effects on spice trade.
This is an issue that the Codex, jointly formed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), seeks to address.