The eighth session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was inaugurated 13 October in the city of Guwahati in Assam, India, by Assam’s State Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya.

In his welcome remarks, Governor Acharya underlined the importance of the spices industry to India generally and to Assam particularly, where, he said, there is a tradition of organic farming which is harmonized with nature and carried out with an understanding of the diversity of climate and soil. “Building on this traditional wisdom,” he said, “modern technology, certification, export facilities, and growing consumer awareness are creating new demand for safe, traceable, and high-quality spices.”

He went on to say “In this context, the Codex Committee can serve as a bridge between farmers and scientists. … the work of the Codex Committee becomes timely and relevant. As we become part of a global food system, standards that ensure transparency, safety, and quality are essential. Codex standards guarantee safety and quality for consumers. They also help small producers and developing countries access global markets. These standards simplify trade barriers and make products internationally competitive.”

Among the other dignitaries to offer welcome speeches were Rajit Punhani, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Secretary of the Spices Board of India, P Hemalatha IAS, and A.B. Remashree, Director of Research and Finance of the Spices Board of India.

Rajit Punhani emphasized the importance of the global trade in spices – “this ancient secret tradition that connects humanity through the universal language of flavours and aroma” - by highlighting the value of these commodities: “the global spices industry is valued now at or around USD 30 billion and is projected to reach more than USD 40 billion by the next decade. It plays a vital role in international trade and the livelihood of millions of farmers, particularly in Southeast Asia,” he said.  “Let us work together to strengthen the global framework for spices and culinary herbs ensuring that our collective efforts contribute to a safer and healthier world for consumers everywhere …  I'm confident that the collective wisdom, scientific expertise and collaborative spirit demonstrated here will guide us towards the development of standards that serve global consumers by promoting fair and sustainable practices.”

P Hemalatha reminded delegates of the “remarkable odyssey of spices from their indigenous roots to global prominence”, which, she said, “has been profoundly influenced by historical cultural and geopolitical factors”. Turning to this session, she said: “We anticipate that this session will lead to fruitful outcomes including concrete efforts to foster harmony and transparency in the establishment of global quality standards. As we all know, the present session of CCSCH will be discussing Codex standards for large cardamom, sweet marjoram, cinnamon and dried coriander seeds. As we engage in these deliberations let us reflect on the challenges before us, share our perspectives, and move forward through constructive discussion and consensus building.”

On behalf of the Codex Secretariat, Hilde Kruse, Senior Food Standards Officer, thanked India for the excellent organization of this year’s Committee meeting and wished delegates a fruitful week of discussions.

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CCSCH8 webpage

Photo © FSSAI
The Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, lights the ceremonial lamp to officially open the CCSCH8 meeting