Effective immediately following the 49th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49) held in Geneva last week, seven Codex standards and guidelines developed under India's chairmanship and co-chairmanship have been adopted, according to a media statement from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Commission also approved India's proposal to undertake new work for a Codex standard for cashew kernels.
What Changed: Adoption of Seven Codex Standards
The CAC49 adopted two standards developed under India's chairmanship: the Codex Standard for Dried Coriander Seeds and the Codex Standard for Fresh Curry Leaves. According to the source, the dried coriander seeds standard "would facilitate trade in one of the world's most widely traded spices," while the fresh curry leaves standard provides an "international benchmark" for this regionally important culinary herb.
Five additional texts were adopted under India's co-chairmanship:
- Codex Standard for Vanilla – establishes harmonized quality requirements for this globally traded commodity.
- Codex Standard for Large Cardamom – provides internationally harmonized quality specifications.
- Annexes to Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing – promotes sustainable water management while ensuring food safety.
- Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat – strengthens measures to reduce foodborne illnesses associated with poultry.
- Provisions Relevant to Joint Presentation and Multipack Formats under the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods – provides greater clarity and consistency in food labelling requirements.
Who Is Affected
Companies involved in the trade of the following products are directly affected: dried coriander seeds, fresh curry leaves, vanilla, large cardamom, cashew kernels, chicken meat, and processed fruits and vegetables. The Indian delegation, led by Rajit Punhani, Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI, participated actively along with technical experts from FSSAI and the Spices Board. Indian exporters of cashew kernels stand to benefit from the new standard, as it is expected to "facilitate fair trade, reduce technical barriers to trade, strengthen market access for Indian exports by enhancing its competitiveness in the global cashew trade," according to the source.
Compliance Obligations and Deadlines
As Codex standards are adopted as international benchmarks, compliance with these standards may be required by importing countries that adopt them into their national legislation. The seven adopted texts are effective immediately as international recommendations. For the cashew kernel standard, the new work has been approved under the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV), meaning a drafting process will begin; companies should monitor developments.
Additionally, India was elected Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems (NFPS). This group will review existing regulatory frameworks, identify gaps in Codex risk analysis principles, and consider the need for any future Codex guidance, potentially impacting novel food products.
Significance for International Trade
The adoption of these standards is expected to reduce technical barriers to trade and harmonize quality and safety requirements globally. The source quoted a media statement: "India's achievements at CAC49 reinforce the country's commitment to strengthening the global food standards system through scientific excellence, international collaboration and consensus-building." The outcomes are expected to benefit Indian farmers, food businesses, exporters, and consumers, while contributing to "safer food and more predictable international trade."
India's Leadership Role
India's chairmanship and co-chairmanship of the committees that developed these standards highlight its growing influence in global food standard-setting. The delegation was led by Rajit Punhani, CEO of FSSAI, with technical experts from FSSAI and the Spices Board. The approval of the cashew kernel standard proposal received "overwhelming support from Codex members," according to the source.
| Standard / Guideline | India's Role | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Dried Coriander Seeds | Chairmanship | Facilitate trade in widely traded spice |
| Fresh Curry Leaves | Chairmanship | International benchmark for culinary herb |
| Vanilla | Co-chairmanship | Harmonized quality requirements |
| Large Cardamom | Co-chairmanship | Harmonized quality requirements |
| Water Reuse Guidelines | Co-chairmanship | Sustainable water management and food safety |
| Campylobacter & Salmonella in Chicken Meat | Co-chairmanship | Reduce foodborne illnesses from poultry |
| Multipack Labelling Provisions | Co-chairmanship | Clarity and consistency in labelling |
For trade compliance professionals, these new standards should be integrated into supplier audits, product specifications, and import/export documentation. Companies trading in these commodities should review their current quality management systems to align with the newly adopted Codex texts.
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