Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized on Wednesday that Indian exporters uphold stringent quality standards, addressing recent concerns over a few consignments of spices as "very very" minuscule and not indicative of broader issues.
Goyal highlighted that the isolated incidents affecting certain spice shipments were minimal compared to India's robust USD 56 billion food and related product exports. He urged media not to exaggerate these incidents, noting they are specific to certain companies and are being actively resolved in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and relevant authorities.
Recent reports surfaced of spices facing rejection in Singapore and Hong Kong due to alleged presence of carcinogenic pesticide 'ethylene oxide' beyond permissible limits. Goyal acknowledged such challenges, noting that even shipments from developed countries occasionally face quality-related rejections.
"India takes pride in its stringent quality standards. Our industry and exporters are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards, ensuring that our agricultural and related exports continue to grow," stated Goyal.
In May, spice exports recorded a decline of 20.28% to USD 361.17 million, reflecting temporary fluctuations in trade dynamics.
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