New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Indian Spices have not been banned by countries like Singapore and Hong Kong according to information given by the Ministry of Commerce, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav told the Lok Sabha on Friday.
However, specific batches of few spice mixtures exported from India were earlier recalled by the Food Safety Authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore due to the presence of ethylene oxide (EtO) above permissible limits, Jadhav said in a written reply.
The Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce, has taken various steps, including mandatory pre-shipment testing of spices being exported to these destinations, issuance of comprehensive guidelines to be followed by exporters to prevent possible EtO contamination at all stages.
Various measures include procurement of raw materials, processing, packing, storage, transportation etc. to meet the varying EtO limits of the importing country. Further, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is fully committed to ensure the availability of safe food products to the consumers across the country, Jadhav said.
Towards this, the FSSAI through states and Union Territories and its regional offices conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of various food products, including spices, to check compliance with the quality and safety parameters and other requirements as laid down under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, and regulations made thereunder.
In cases of non-compliance to the statutory requirements as above, penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the provisions laid down under the FSS Act, 2006, the minister said.