Spices exporters concerned over delay in FSSAI sample testing in Kochi

The All India Spices Exporters Forum is up in arms over the delay in clearance of import of spices because of to the prerequisite of FSSAI testing and sampling for the imported products.

Rajiv Palicha, Chairman, All India Spices Exporters Forum, said that quite a few members who import numerous raw supplies underneath Progress Authorisation and EOU techniques for production valued included products for a hundred for each cent exports have highlighted at troubles related with clearance of import cargo at Kochi Port.

He said the food stuff basic safety authority has recently commenced insisting on sample testing underneath the Foods Import Clearance Technique for all spice imports for value-included export generation and this is creating undue hardship and loss of export income for the whole field.

The Forum has sought the intervention of the Joint Director, DGFT, Kochi in facilitating the launch of import consignments underneath the Progress Authorisation plan of spice exporters centered on the pre-existing norms.

He also requested the authorities to instruct FSSAI to permit clearance of all potential consignments and not to draw samples of import consignments as the identical was exempted from the Foods Import Clearance Technique of FSSAI.

Human usage

According to exporters, the spices procured by the oleoresin field for extraction is of reasonable normal top quality — unfit for direct human usage and is applicable for more processing and extraction system. The FSSAI specification for spices is largely applicable for spices utilised for direct usage (culinary/retail grade). The specifications of top quality for the concluded products from these processes are totally distinct from that intended for usage in raw spice sort.

The raw Progress Authorisation holders and EOUs are exempted from import clearance by the FSSAI guidelines issued in 2015. The Customs do not even have to refer articles or blog posts of food stuff to food stuff authority for clearance if these articles or blog posts are intended for generation of value-included products for exports , Palicha included.