Now Nepal has adopted a strict attitude towards Indian spices. After Singapore and Hong Kong, Nepal has also banned the import and sale of some spice products from Indian companies over alleged quality concerns. According to Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, four spice products from MDH and Everest have been banned due to suspected ethylene oxide or EtO contamination. Under this, MDH’s Madras Curry Powder, Sambar Masala Powder and Mixed Masala Curry Powder and Everest’s Fish Curry Masala have been banned.
What is said in the notice
“Since the quantity of ethylene oxide in these four products has been found to be more than the prescribed limit, the import and sale of these products within the country is prohibited as per Article 19 of the Food Regulation 2027 BS,” the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control said in a notice. Has been banned.
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports regarding the sale of these substandard products in the market and their being harmful for consumption,” the notice said. The food quality control watchdog has asked importers and traders to issue these… It has also been requested to withdraw the products from the market.
Singapore, Hong Kong took action last month
Let us tell you that last month, Singapore and Hong Kong had stopped the sale of some spices from MDH and Everest citing suspected high levels of some cancer-related ETOs. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has since taken steps to conduct quality checks of various brands of spices in the country.
Exports will be affected
Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholders (FISS) said that if the issue of presence of ethylene oxide (ETO) in spices is not resolved soon, there could be a decline of about 40 per cent in spice exports during the current financial year. . Let us tell you that in the financial year 2023-24, India’s spice exports totaled $ 4.25 billion, which was 12 percent of the global spice exports.
