- India among world’s largest producers, exporters of large cardamom, coriander
- Move could help improve India’s market access, enhance export competitiveness
India secured a major milestone at the 49th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), held in Geneva from 6 to 10 July 2026, with the formal adoption of international quality standards for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said on Thursday.
Codex approves standards for three spices
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), jointly established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), develops internationally recognised food safety and quality standards that facilitate global trade and protect consumer health.
India developed the three standards through the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), which it hosts. The standards were finalised during the committee’s eighth session in Guwahati in October 2025, approved by other Codex committees, and then formally adopted by the Commission in July.
The standards establish common international quality benchmarks for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla, helping reduce differences in quality requirements across countries and facilitating smoother global trade.
India expands role in Codex
The Commission also accepted India’s request to co-chair a newly formed Electronic Working Group (EWG) to develop guidance on risk analysis for new food products.
For India, one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of large cardamom and coriander, the new standards are expected to improve market access, promote fair trade, and enhance export competitiveness. The standard for large cardamom is also expected to support exports from India’s northeastern Himalayan region, where the crop is primarily grown.
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