FSSAI Rejected List Of Imported Spices Shipments: What Went Wrong?

Various questions are pouring in media across the globe recently regarding the authenticity of spices. Contamination of spices created alarm among everyone. Recently, a study in the journal of Food Microbiology shows India—it is the top exporter of spices to the US—is rated second among the 37 countries from where contaminated spices shipments are sent to the US. Mexico tops the list. But in recent years, competition is stiff among the traders all around the globe because of the sharply escalating prices of the spices and spice products and its uses in various supplements and nutraceuticals.

Recent study on contamination of spices in the Food Microbiology created alarm among everyone.

India exports more than 200 spices and spice products in whole, powdered, blended and mixed forms. These include pepper, cardamom, ginger, garlic, turmeric, chilli, cumin, coriander, celery, fennel, fenugreek, tamarind, spice oil and mint products, etc. In the last five years, US imports of Indian spices have doubled in value to Rs. 160,543 crore in 2011-12 compared with Rs. 86,716 crore in 2007-08.

But due to contamination and failure of exporters in maintaining the quality standards of the spices, FSSAI is rejecting lot of imported spices and other spice products.

Let’s take a look on the rejected list of imported spices by FSSAI.

PORT	Consignment ID	BOE NO	Manufacturer Details	Exporting Country	Product	Issues
Chennai	ICA2018070 0026958	7293 942	RATHNA PRODUCERS CINNAMON EXPORTS PVT.LTD.	Sri Lanka	CLOVES	The sample does not confirms the parameter for Headless clove as per standards laid down under Regulation 2.9.6(1) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products standards & Food Additives) Regulations 2011
Mumbai JNPT Nhava Sheva	ICA2018070 0023292	70331 08	PROSI THANG LONG JOINT STOCK COMPANY	Vietnam	CASSIA/ Split CASSIA	The consignment does not conform to the standards laid down under Regulation 2.9.5(1) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 as the sample fails for the parameters of Moisture
Tuticorin	ICA2018070 0026961	7240 511	LLC AGRO TRADE, 116/1, MOSKOVSKAY A STREET, KRANSN	Russia	WHOLE CORIANDER SEEDS	The sample does not confirm the parameter for Split fruit and damaged/ discoloured fruit as per standards laid down under Regulation 2.9.7.1 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
Tuticorin	ICA2018070 0027434	7291 550	CENTRAL SPICE EXPORT	Sri Lanka	SRILANKA CLOVES	The sample does not confirms the parameter for Headless clove and Extraneous matter as per standards laid down under Regulation 2.9.6(1) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011

The problem why so many firms are on the red list is because the spices sector is largely unorganised in India.For this reason, the food regulatory is taking steps to bring compliance among the spice exporters as it can directly impact our economy.

References:

1. Report_Food_Import_Consignment_July_Month_Rejected_10_09_2018. Available at: https://archive.fssai.gov.in/home/WhatsNewAll.html.Accessible on: 1.07.2019