Codex Lessons for spices : Imparting science based business proposition

When Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2013, India was one among the member countries to rejoice during the festivities.  Being the world’s largest body inter-governmental body on setting standards, CAC has gained lots of repute and respect across continents on account of its science based resolutions having total global ramifications on matters relating to food standards. At the peak of its glory of the 50^th year, Codex Alimentarius Commission gave birth to yet another Commodity Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs, thanks to the Indian proposal. The Indian effort to establish an exclusive Codex platform for spices and culinary herbs became a reality as the international forum finally decided to go for its total constitution.

The formation of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) is aimed at elaborating worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs in their dried and dehydrated state in whole, ground, and cracked or crushed form. It also engraved the basic thought of consultation as necessary, with other international organizations in the standards development process to avoid duplication.

As India became the host country for the CCSCH, the country also got on to the authentic route to the Codex platform. Being the host country for CCSCH, the Indian responsibility to participate and deliberate in Codex courts also grew.

The host organisation for the CCSCH, Spices Board India catapulted to the central arena of Codex activities with its newly constituted Codex Cell in Cochin.  The successful hosting of the first Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH1) in less than one year from its formation, from 11^th -14^th February 2014 in Kochi, Kerala had in fact strengthened the capacities for handling Codex assignments.  To make the first session an astounding success within a short span of time was an onerous task which was possible only due to close liaison with the Codex Secretariat in Rome and the National Codex Contact Point of India in FSSAI. The outreach of the committee can be gauged from the participation of delegates from 40 member countries.

Though the youngest of all Codex Committees, the first session of CCSCH saw  proactive involvement with substantial inputs from member countries. CCSCH1 deliberated on eight project documents proposing new work, on oregano (Argentina), paprika (Argentina), pepper (India, United States of America and Indonesia), rosemary (India), cumin (India), thyme (India), saffron (Iran) and nutmeg (Indonesia).  The Committee agreed to establish, subject to the approval of the Commission, four  Electronic Working Groups to prepare draft standards for two spices and two herbs for circulation for comments at Step 3 and consideration at its next Session. The eWG on “Black, white & green pepper” led by India and co-chaired by Cameroon and  Indonesia is now on full steam. The eWGs on “Brown Cumin” led by European Union and co-chaired by India, the eWG on “Thyme” led by European Union and co-chaired by Switzerland and the eWG on “Oregano” led by Argentina and co-chaired by Greece have started work fast and are deep into its procedures.

The CCSCH provided avenues for the Indian spices and herbs industry to make sorties to other Codex Committees of vital importance from point of view and other producing countries. The establishment of a Codex Cell in Spices Board to manoeuvre Codex commitments has brought in an element of Codex culture to preferentially study all documents and offer comments. New work proposals on various parameters for spices and culinary herbs got signed in by the Codex Cell. The Spices Board on behalf  of India submitted a new work proposal on maximum limit of aflatoxin in spices for consideration at the eighth session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF). As a part of the Indian delegation, the officials of the Board got represented in various codex meetings such as 45th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) held at Hanoi, Vietnam during 11^th -15^th November 2013.  As per the decision taken during the 45^th Session of CCPR,  Spices Board in consultation with all stakeholders co-ordinate generation, consolidation and cataloging of national residues and toxicological data and is in the process of ensuring its submission to JMPR besides actively participating and keeping the shadow committee of CCPR ( Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues) briefed on Indian viewpoint related to various agenda items.

The triumphant journey of the Spices Board towards various committees of Codex is unending and as on today, the Codex Cell has marked its presence in the floor of the house for food hygiene, on contaminants in food, on method of analysis and sampling, and on pesticide residues. Further into each of these committees, associated involvement has resulted in getting on board of nearly ten Electronic Working Groups whose final output will have direct or indirect implications for India which is a major exporter of spices and herbs The following is the list of assignments the Codex Cell has taken  up exclusive of CCSCH.

1.              Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH)

·         Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Low-Moisture Foods (LMF)

·         Annexes on Statistical and Mathematical matters related to principles and guidelines for the establishment and application of microbiological criteria related to foods

2.              Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF)

·         Revision of the maximum levels for Lead in the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed

·         Code of Practice on Mycotoxin Contamination in Spices (including specific annexes)

·         Review Mycotoxins in spices for prioritization of the work in spices

3.              Codex Committee on Method of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)

·         Discussion paper - equivalency to Type I methods

4.              Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)

·         Electronic working groups on Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues

·         Electronic working groups  on Minor Crops

·         Electronic working groups  on Priorities

The new association with Codex Alimentarius Commission is bequeathing lots of science, scientific and intellectual thinking and logical presentation in the standard setting process for spices and culinary herbs.  The Codex Cell activity in Spices Board India is embedding a new culture of serious science based thinking in the country for national and international business.