Pesticides and spices: Challenges and implications for domestic and international trade

February 15, 2023

India has been leading the world in the production and export of spices, but the pesticide industry in the country is facing several challenges. Despite being highly regulated, there are several gaps in the registration and availability of plant protection products (PPPs) for commercial agriculture, which precipitate food safety concerns in the sector. Two background papers were recently published highlighting the burning issues encountered in the spice industry. The ICAR-IISR has come out with a policy paper while an opinion paper was published in the Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

Challenges Faced by the Spice Industry

  1. Lack of registered pesticides: The registration process for PPPs is lengthy and often involves significant costs, making manufacturers less enthusiastic about it when it comes to crops like spices, which do not occupy major areas. As a result, there are only very few label claims available for spices, with no valid label claims available for crops like ginger, fennel, fenugreek, vanilla, tree spices and so on, while we have many for crops like chilli and cumin.

  2. Use of off-label pesticides: The limited number of registered PPPs can impact the productivity and quality of spice crops, leading to lower yields and a decrease in competitiveness in the global market. The fall out of this situation is the use of several off-label pesticides by growers, which can be dangerous and contaminate the final product.

  3. Presence of pesticide residues: Pesticide usage in spices is 43% and the highest use or abuse is seen in crops like chilli, cumin and cardamom. There are incidences of detecting pesticide residues in several spices, leading to the rejection of consignments, mainly because of non-judicious and illegal use of pesticides by growers.

  4. Absence of maximum residue limits: The absence of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for many pesticides used in spice production can impact the country’s ability to export its products, as importing countries may have stricter regulations on pesticide residues.

Implications for Domestic and International Trade

The lack of registered pesticides and the absence of MRLs for many of them can have significant implications for both the domestic and international trade of spices. In the domestic market, consumers may be concerned about the safety of spice products and may choose to purchase spices from other countries. On the international front, the absence of MRLs can make it difficult for Indian spices to compete with products from other countries that have stricter regulations in place.

The Role of the Spice Industry

Instead of lamenting on the challenges, the industry can play a proactive role in addressing them. Along with the Spices Board, they should take the lead to impress upon regulatory bodies like CIB&RC and FSSAI to fast track the process of label claim expansion and MRL harmonisation. They should liaison with R&D institutions, if needed fund research, to address the burning issues faced. By strengthening the supply chain and educating the growers, the industry can ensure good agricultural practices (GAP) and traceability, which will ultimately alleviate pesticide-related issues faced by the sector.

Policy Pondering

  • Relaxation of rules for label expansion: Based on the available data generated by R&D institutions, the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) can consider a one-time relaxation in rules for label expansion. This will enable the registration of new pesticides that have already undergone rigorous testing, reducing the time taken for approval.

  • Decentralisation for expedited label claims and pesticide registration: To speed up the process of label claims and pesticide registration, reasonable decentralisation can be implemented. Currently, the approval process is centralised, causing significant delays. Decentralisation can bring decision-making closer to where the action is, reducing the time it takes for approval.

  • Liberalisation of registration for biopesticides and botanicals: The search for pesticide alternatives can be sped up by liberalising the registration of biopesticides and botanicals. These alternatives are environmentally friendly and can offer effective pest control. Currently, the registration process is slow, hindering the search for alternative pesticides.

  • Uniform Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) across the globe: Instead of having different MRLs in each country, a uniform MRL (Codex) can be established across the globe. This will make it easier for exporters to meet international standards, making it more convenient for importers to import spices from India. The current system where different countries have different MRLs is costly, time-consuming and creates confusion.

  • Processing factor/dehydration factor/concentration factor for deriving MRLs in spices: Spices are neither a raw agricultural commodity (RAC) nor a processed food. It is essential to take into account the Processing Factor/Dehydration Factor/Concentration Factor when deriving MRLs in spices. These factors help to establish safe levels of pesticides in spices, protecting consumers from the harmful effects of excessive pesticide residue.

Conclusion

The spice industry in India requires a permanent solution to its challenges, and the answer lies in setting up an IT-enabled, data-centric supply/value chain. Such a chain will enhance traceability, transparency and ensure the safety and quality of products. It will also create opportunities for small farmers and help the spice industry become more competitive in the global market.

The challenges facing the spice industry in India are complex and require a collective approach by involving all stakeholders. The industry needs to generate bioefficacy and residue data, advocate for label expansion and MRL harmonisation, and strengthen the supply chain. The spice industry in India has a catalytic role to play in ensuring its competitiveness and contributing to the country’s economic growth. By implementing these policy changes and prudent strategies, the spice industry in India will continue to play a significant role in the global market.

Additional Reading

[Excerpts of the invited talk in the National Spice Conference (NSC 2022), 6-7 October 2022, Mumbai, India]