Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 15: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday announced a ban on the sale of loose and unpacked spice powders and mixed spices, making packaging and sealing at the place of production mandatory to prevent adulteration, contamination and ensure product traceability.
The state food safety regulator has also prohibited the use of ethylene oxide, a colourless and flammable gas, for sterilising spices due to concerns over its potential carcinogenic effects.
Addressing reporters, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the state government had issued a comprehensive order governing the production, processing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of spices. The order prescribes strict compliance requirements for all food business operators involved in the spice trade.
The regulations cover manufacturers, traders, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce operators, hotels, eateries, caterers and institutional kitchens dealing in spices and spice-based products. These include turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, asafoetida, saffron, poppy seeds, garam masala, curry powder and other varieties.
Mundhe said loose spice powders and mixed spices must be properly packed and sealed at the place of production before being distributed or sold. The requirement is intended to minimise the risk of adulteration and contamination while ensuring that the quality and origin of products can be traced.
The order prohibits the use of harmful and unauthorised colouring agents, including Metanil Yellow, Rhodamine B, Sudan dyes and Lead Chromate, in spices.
The FDA commissioner warned that strict action would be taken against those found adulterating spices with brick powder, chalk, sawdust, foreign starch or other unauthorised substances to increase their weight or quantity. Authorities would also act against businesses that blend inferior-quality raw materials into spices or sell products from which valuable extracts have been removed.
The order further prohibits drying spices on public roads, tarred surfaces, near drains, garbage bins or cattle sheds. Production and storage premises must be maintained in clean, dry and hygienic conditions and kept free from pests. Storing pesticides, industrial colours, chemicals and other harmful substances alongside spices will not be permitted.
Mundhe clarified that businesses engaged in spice production and grinding must hold a valid licence or registration from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), as applicable. A trade licence alone will not be sufficient to operate such businesses.
Food handlers must meet prescribed medical fitness, personal hygiene and training requirements. Businesses will also be required to implement a Food Safety Management System to maintain hygiene and ensure compliance with food safety standards.
Under the labelling requirements, spice packets must carry the product name, list of ingredients, manufacturer's details, FSSAI licence number, batch number, date of manufacture or packing, and use-by or best-before date, along with other mandatory information.
The regulator has also warned manufacturers and sellers against making unsubstantiated claims regarding the purity, naturalness or organic production of spices. Claims about health benefits must be supported by evidence, and misleading representations could invite action under the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The prohibition on ethylene oxide sterilisation forms another key component of the order. Only legally permitted sterilisation methods can be used, Mundhe said. Spices will also be subject to testing for pesticide residues, aflatoxins, heavy metals and other contaminants in accordance with applicable food safety standards.
The FDA's enforcement measures will extend beyond retail outlets to original producers, grinding and blending units, repacking businesses, suppliers and those supplying prohibited colours or other substances used for adulteration.
To identify the source of adulteration, officials will examine purchase and sale invoices, production records, batch numbers and the reconciliation of raw material quantities with finished products. The FDA will coordinate with the police and other competent agencies wherever necessary, Mundhe said.
Violations could result in the seizure of food products, suspension of sales, market recalls, suspension or cancellation of licences and legal proceedings, depending on the nature and severity of the offence.
The order directs food safety officials across Maharashtra to inspect businesses dealing in spices and ensure compliance with the prescribed requirements. Details of inspections, samples collected and enforcement action must be entered into the designated systems, while the concerned officers will be required to submit monthly reports to senior officials.