India introduces stringent guidelines to prevent EtO contamination in spices exported to Singapore and Hong Kong.
India has implemented detailed guidelines to prevent ethylene oxide (EtO) contamination in spices intended for export, particularly to Singapore and Hong Kong, an official announced on Monday. This move follows the recall of MDH and Everest products in these regions due to the presence of EtO, a known carcinogen, in certain spices.
To mitigate this issue, the government has mandated pre-shipment sampling and testing for EtO for all spice exports to Singapore and Hong Kong. Guidelines have been established for exporters to avoid EtO contamination at every stage of the supply chain, including sourcing, packaging, transportation, and testing.
An official noted that some samples from Everest Spices were found non-compliant with the stringent standard of 0.1 mg per kg for EtO presence. Everest Spices has been instructed to take corrective measures. Additionally, the Spices Board conducts periodic sampling from exporters, enforcing corrective actions based on the findings.
Another official explained that while there is a degree of sample failure in food products, India’s sample failure rate is less than 1 percent. In the fiscal year 2023-24, 99.8 percent of the approximately 1.4 million tonnes of exported spices met the quality requirements of various countries, with only 0.2 percent of consignments being non-compliant.
In contrast, 0.7 percent of imported food consignments were non-compliant. Alerts regarding Indian food commodities exported to the EU due to EtO contamination have significantly declined. The Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for EtO vary by country: the EU sets limits between 0.02 and 0.1 mg per kg, Singapore allows up to 50 mg per kg, and Japan permits 0.01 mg per kg.
These measures underscore India’s commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of its spice exports, protecting consumer health, and maintaining compliance with international standards.
