New Delhi:

India, the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, has sought details from food safety regulators in Singapore and Hong Kong, which have banned some spices from Indian brands MDH and Everest due to quality concerns.

The commerce ministry has also directed the Indian embassies in both Singapore and Hong Kong to send a detailed report on the matter.

The ministry has also sought details from Indian companies – MDH and Everest, whose products have been banned for allegedly containing pesticide ‘ethylene oxide’ in excess of permissible limits.

“Details have been sought from the companies. The root cause of rejection and corrective action will be taken with the concerned exporters to determine,” a commerce ministry official said.

Technical details, analytical reports and details of exporters whose consignments have been rejected have been sought from the embassies in Singapore and Hong Kong, the official said.

The official said details have also been sought from the Singapore Food Agency and the Center for Food Safety and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong.

The ministry official noted that an industry consultation is also scheduled to discuss the issue of mandatory testing of ethylene oxide in spice shipments to Singapore and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the Indian Spices Board is considering a ban imposed by Hong Kong and Singapore on the sale of four spice-blend products of Indian brands MDH and Everest.

Hong Kong’s food safety regulator has asked consumers not to buy these products and traders not to sell them, with the Singapore Food Agency directing a recall of the products.

In the financial year 2022-23, the country exported spices worth about Rs 32,000 crore. Chilli, cumin, spice oil and oleoresin, turmeric, curry powder and cardamom are the major spices exported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)