Advice to Exercise Caution in Spice Exports to China

26-Jun-2026 05:59 PM

Kochi: The Spices Board has advised all Indian exporters shipping spices and spice products to China to exercise extra caution and strictly adhere to China's national food safety standards regarding Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides, to prevent the rejection of Indian spice consignments.

A trade advisory issued by the Spices Board includes a link that allows exporters to check the permissible maximum residue levels for pesticides in specific spices or spice products in China; consignments exceeding these limits are liable to be rejected.

Strict compliance with the residue limit standards enforced by the Chinese government is essential. China is a major importer of Indian spices such as red chili and cumin. Recently, China rejected some consignments of Indian red chili—a matter India has viewed seriously—though exports of Indian spices to China are continuing.