PARTHA ROY, KOLKATA: Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) released a critical policy brief on July 8, 2026, urging immediate reforms in India’s spice market to address major food safety and regulatory gaps. The global spices market was estimated at USD 27–30.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 54.75 billion by 2033.
India currently accounts for more than 40% of global spice production. India is home to an incredible variety of spices, producing roughly 75 of the 109 spice varieties recognized globally by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Spices Board of India officially regulates and promotes 52 distinct spices. Despite this leading market share, India’s domestic spice market remains 60% to 80% informal. Experts at a high-level consultation noted that while the country produces 75 spice varieties, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has established quality standards for only 45. Furthermore, only 14 Indian spices are recognized under the *Codex Alimentarius*.
The *Codex Alimentarius* Commission, an international body established by the FAO and WHO, regulates these international food safety standards. Strengthening the FSSAI and bringing more Indian spices under the *Codex Alimentarius* framework is critically important as a large number of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with various nations come into force to boost export. This regulatory deficit, combined with overlapping jurisdictions between the FSSAI and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has led to inconsistent quality and raised significant health concerns. Furthermore, non-uniform laboratory testing inflates compliance costs for traders by up to ₹30,000 per sample. To streamline the sector, the policy brief recommends appointing a single nodal agency to oversee the supply chain from farm to retail. It also calls for harmonizing domestic regulations with international *Codex* standards, modernizing testing infrastructure, and implementing technology to ensure farm-level traceability.