Spices body for global pesticide norm

International Organisation of Spice Trade Associations (IOSTA) has planned to bring together spices associations around the world to address common issues and ensure the sustainability of the spices industry.

In a recently concluded meeting in Munich, the organisation laid down a mission statement focusing mainly on addressing various quality issues in spices trading.

IOSTA will approach Codex Elementaris, an arm of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), with the request to set global standards on pesticide residue in various spices. A working group was formed at the meeting to study the issue and to find out the maximum residue limits (MRL) for different spices.

At present, each country sets its own residue limit, creating a lot of confusions in the global spices trading. The working group has been entrusted with the task to find out MRL that can be applicable to all spices across the world.

Besides, three other groups were also formed to work out solutions for various quality-related issues. According to Sushama Sreekantath, chairperson of All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), who attended the meeting, IOSTA suggested a method of label declaration, describing the contents of the product so that the consumers could identify the extent of adulteration and decide whether to buy or not.

"This will ensure a lower rate of rejection by various retail chains across the world," she said.

IOSTA has also identified misbranding as a major issue in global spice trading. There are incidents of selling products mixing spices of various origins and supplying products of other origins in the label of well-acclaimed origins. This practice is high in the trading of black pepper.

In order to avoid misbranding of spices, the global body has suggested finger print technology to prove the origin of products. In Europe, an organisation, Sure Global Fair (SGF), has successfully introduced the technology in fruit trading and IOSTA has decided to seek its help to avoid misbranding.

The working group will work together with SGF to evolve a proper strategy in order to curb misbranding through finger print technology.

For codifying and setting standards for various analytical methods, a working group has been constituted. IOSTA will also try to ensure good agricultural practices in spice producing countries to minimise adulteration, pesticide use and other quality de-grading methods at the farm level.

Another working group of the organisation will examine these issues and suggest remedial measures. Apart from AISEF, European Spice Association (ESA) and associations of countries such as UK, Spain, Sweden and Spain have also attended the three-day-long deliberations.

IOSTA has proposed to conduct a meeting in Goa during the World Spice Congress scheduled to be held in January, 2008.