A revised maximum residue level (MRL) framework for spices and culinary herbs, which can help improve market access for Indian exporters, is in the offing.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has readied a new draft framework on the MRL, which is likely to be finalised soon.
Providing an update on the revised MRL framework, Paresh Shah, Chairman, sub-committee, Scientific Panel on Pesticide Residues, FSSAI, confirmed on Wednesday that a significant revision, increasing the number of approved MRLs from 11 to 98, was nearing finalisation.
He was speaking at a panel discussion on contaminants and regulations at the ongoing International Spice Conference, 2025, in Bengaluru, organised by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF). “For decades, India’s MRLs were inherited from outdated global frameworks. The upcoming revision, backed by extensive monitoring data, will align our standards with international benchmarks.
“This is a crucial step towards improving the market access for Indian spices,” Shah said.
Easy for processors
Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, World Spice Organisation and Managing Committee Member, AISEF, said the number of MRLs in the draft framework had seen an increase, thanks to the quicker process which the government is following now.
“It (increase in MRLs) will help a great deal because one of the problems we were facing was the lack of enough MRLs for spices. So if there’s any dispute, we have not been able to go and present our case to the authorities abroad. Now with this, we’ll be able to; it strengthens our case and we’ll be able to go and tell the regulatory authorities that yes, we also have these MRLs, which makes it easier for us in cases of dispute,” Menon said. Further, he said having more MRLs will help improve the market access for the Indian exporters.
“Also, the risk of rejections would come down because even exporters will get an idea about what is the exact requirement. With more MRLs getting established, it becomes easier for processors to confirm to the requirements,” Menon added.
Growing shipments
Indian spice exports, which touched a record $4.46 billion during financial year 2023-24, continue to be on an upward trend, clocking a growth of 7.91 per cent year-on-year in the April-January period this fiscal.
Per the latest Commerce Ministry data, value of spices exports during April-January 2024-25 stood at $3501.11 million over the same period last year’s $3244.47 million. India accounts for a quarter of the global spice trade and has been a leading producer and exporter of spices such as chilli, turmeric and cumin, among others.
India exports over 225 unique products to over 180 countries. The State-run Spices Board is targeting to more than double exports to around $10 billion by 2030 from the $4.4 billion in the year-ended March 2024.
The Board has implemented stringent quality control measures, including mandatory ethylene oxide testing for exports destined to the European Union and also to countries, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, to enhance food safety and compliance.
