AISEF and ESA Sign MoU to Strengthen India EU Spice Trade Standards
Partnership Focuses on Food Safety, Sustainability, and Regulatory Alignment
Kochi, February 24: The All India Spices Exporters Forum and the European Spice Association have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation on food safety, sustainability standards, and regulatory alignment in the India EU spice trade.The agreement was formalized at the International Spice Conference 2026 in Kochi on Monday. The memorandum was signed by AISEF Chairman Emmanuel Nambusseril and ESA Chairman Benoit Winstel, according to a release issued on Wednesday.
Joint Declaration Reaffirms Commitment to Consumer Health
Under a joint declaration, both organizations reiterated their commitment to protecting consumer health and promoting ethical and responsible practices across the spice supply chain.The declaration clearly condemns food adulteration and prohibits the use of sterilization methods that are banned in the European Union, including ethylene oxide, for products meant for EU markets.
It also cautions against the misuse of permitted processes, such as undeclared irradiation or non compliant chemical treatments.
Two Year Framework for Technical Cooperation and Compliance
The two year MoU establishes a structured framework for information sharing, technical cooperation, and coordinated engagement on European Union regulatory requirements.The cooperation will cover areas including hygiene standards, contaminants, traceability systems, and sustainability benchmarks.
Under the arrangement, the European Spice Association will provide updates on European market regulations. In turn, the All India Spices Exporters Forum will promote EU standards throughout its supply chain to ensure consistent compliance for Indian origin spice products.
Regulatory Preparedness Key to Export Competitiveness
Industry representatives noted that the partnership comes at a time when European markets are tightening residue norms, strengthening traceability mandates, and raising sustainability expectations.With regulatory standards becoming more stringent, preparedness and alignment with EU requirements are increasingly central to maintaining export competitiveness in the global spice trade.
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