Spices Board discussing the setting of ETO Limits with CODEX

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Health

Tag: ETO Limits with CODEX

Context:

India has taken up with the CODEX committee the need for setting up limits for ETO usage as different countries have different limits.
CODEX has not prescribed a limit so far.
Also, there is no standard for ETO testing. India has also given a proposal for that.

About ETO (ethylene oxide):

ETO is a chemical used as a sterilising agent in spices.
EtO is prohibited from being used even as a fumigant in India.
EtO is employed across various industries, including in the spice industry to reduce microbial contamination and extend shelf life.
EtO is banned for use as a pesticide in India.
However, improper usage can lead to residues that form toxic and potentially carcinogenic compounds, such as ethylene glycol — recently linked to fatal contaminations in cough syrups.
Long-term exposure to EtO is also associated with an increased risk of cancers like lymphoma and leukaemia.

About CODEX:

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an inter-governmental food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 1963.
Objective: Protecting consumer’s health and ensuring fair practices in food trade.
The Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes Codex standards, guidelines, and recommendations as reference standards.
Members:
- Currently, the CAC has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and the EU.
India became a member in 1964.

CODEX Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs:

CODEX committee (CCSCH) was formed in 2013 with the support of more than a hundred countries with India as the host country and the Spices Board as the Secretariat for organizing the committee sessions.
Objectives:
- To consult with other International Organisations for the standards development process in the spice market.
- To develop and expand worldwide standards.
- Since its inception, the CODEX Committee has been on a positive path in developing harmonized global standards for worldly herbs and spices.

About Codex Standards:

Voluntary in nature, Codex standards can be general or specific and are recognized by WTO Agreements as reference standards.
General Standards, Guidelines, and Codes of Practice: These core Codex texts, typically deal with hygienic practice, labelling, contaminants, additives, inspection & certification, nutrition, and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides and apply horizontally to products and product categories.
Commodity standards: These refer to a specific product although increasingly Codex now develops standards for food groups.
Regional standards: Standards developed by the respective Regional Coordinating Committees, applicable to the respective regions.

About Spices Board India:

It is the statutory organization constituted on 26th February 1987, under the Spices Board Act 1986.
It was formed with the merger of the erstwhile Cardamom Board and Spices Export Promotion Council.
The Board functions as an international link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad and it has been involved in various activities which touch upon every segment of the spices sector.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
HQ: Kochi, Kerala, regional laboratories in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Tuticorin, Kandla and Guntur.
Main functions:
- The Spices Board is responsible for the overall development of cardamom (small and large) in terms of improving production, productivity and quality.
- The Board is also implementing post-harvest improvement programmes to improve the quality of the 52 scheduled spices for export.
- The various development programmes and post-harvest quality improvement programmes of the Board are included under the head ‘Export Oriented Production’.
- Promotion of organic production, processing and certification of spices
- Development of spices in the North East
- Provision of quality evaluation services

Source: THBL