The 8th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was inaugurated today in Guwahati by the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya, reaffirming India’s leading role in shaping global food standards and trade practices.

The session is being hosted by the Government of India, with the Spices Board of India serving as the Secretariat under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) — a joint intergovernmental body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that promotes food safety, quality, and fair practices in international trade.

In his inaugural address, Shri Acharya underscored the pivotal role of CCSCH in conserving and promoting India’s vast spice biodiversity. He commended India’s proactive initiatives such as the promotion of turmeric as a superfood, and the approval of over 200 spices for export, reflecting the country’s growing strength in the global spice sector.

Highlighting the potential of Assam and the North-Eastern region as emerging spice hubs, the Hon’ble Governor emphasized that enhanced processing facilities, value addition, and export promotion measures are significantly improving farmers’ income and contributing to the region’s social and economic development.

Furthermore, Shri Acharya lauded the collaborative efforts of the Government of India and the Spices Board in strengthening the value chain of Indian spices, aligning domestic standards with global benchmarks, and ensuring food safety and quality for consumers worldwide.

Delivering the special address, Shri Rajit Punhani, CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), underlined the economic and cultural significance of spices, noting that the global spice industry, valued at USD 28.5 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 41.9 billion by 2033. He emphasized the need for harmonized, science-based food standards to ensure consumer safety and promote equitable global trade.

Shri Punhani also highlighted India’s leadership in international capacity-building initiatives under the Codex Trust Fund, and the success of the Global Food Regulators Summit held in September 2025, which reinforced global collaboration on food safety and regulatory convergence.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Hilde Kruse, Senior Food Safety Officer, Codex Secretariat thanked the Government of India and the Spices Board for hosting the session and acknowledged India’s continued support through FSSAI and the Spices Board in advancing harmonized global standards for spices and culinary herbs. She commended the committee’s progress over the past 11 years and lauded FSSAI’s recent Global Food Regulators Summit in Delhi for underscoring the importance of harmonized international standards.

The session is set to witness deliberations on draft and proposed standards for key spices and culinary herbs, including cardamom, coriander, and vanilla, with recommendations to be forwarded to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for consideration and approval.

Dr. Alka Rao, Advisor, FSSAI; Dr. M. R. Sudharsan, Chairperson, CCSCH; and other senior officials from FSSAI, CCSCH, and the Spices Board of India were also present at the event. The session concluded on a high note with the participation of 140 delegates representing 40 countries, reflecting the global commitment towards harmonizing food standards and strengthening international cooperation in the spice sector.

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