India has achieved an important milestone in international food standard-setting after the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted three new global standards covering large cardamom, coriander, and vanilla. The decision was taken during the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 10 July 2026.
Along with the adoption of these standards, India was also selected to serve as Co-Chair of a newly formed Electronic Working Group (EWG) on risk analysis for new food products. The development highlights India’s expanding role in shaping international food safety and quality standards.
Key Highlights
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted new international standards for large cardamom, coriander, and vanilla.
- The decision was taken during CAC49, held in Geneva from 6-10 July 2026.
- The standards were developed by the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), hosted by India.
- India was appointed Co-Chair of a new Electronic Working Group on risk analysis for new food products.
- The new standards are expected to improve global trade by creating uniform quality requirements for these spices.
- The move is likely to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, particularly for large cardamom and coriander.
Read: India–UK CETA Begins: Nearly 99% of Indian Exports Get Zero Duty
India Strengthens Its Role in Global Food Standards
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the international body responsible for developing science-based food safety and quality standards. It was established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in international food trade.
India plays an important role within the Codex system by hosting the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), one of the five Codex commodity committees. The committee is coordinated by the Spices Board, which serves as its Secretariat.
The standards for large cardamom, coriander, and vanilla were finalised during the Eighth Session of the CCSCH, held in Guwahati in October 2025. Before receiving final approval, they were reviewed and endorsed by the Codex committees responsible for methods of analysis, food additives, and food labelling.
New Standards Expected to Support Global Spice Trade
The newly adopted Codex standards establish internationally recognised quality requirements for large cardamom, coriander, and vanilla. Common quality benchmarks help reduce differences in product specifications across countries, making international trade more efficient and predictable.
For India, the decision is particularly important because the country is among the world’s leading producers and exporters of large cardamom and coriander. Harmonised standards can simplify market access, improve buyer confidence, and support fair trade by ensuring consistent quality expectations across importing countries.
The standard for large cardamom carries additional significance because the crop is indigenous to India’s North-Eastern Himalayan region. Meanwhile, the coriander standard reflects India’s strong position in global production and exports.
Although India imports a large share of its vanilla requirement, the new Codex standard for vanilla provides a globally accepted quality framework that can improve consistency in international trade and strengthen consumer confidence in vanilla products.
India Named Co-Chair of New Electronic Working Group
During the Geneva session, the Codex Alimentarius Commission established a new Electronic Working Group (EWG) to prepare policy guidance on risk analysis for new food products. The European Union will chair the group, while India’s request to serve as Co-Chair was approved by the Commission.
India’s appointment reflects its growing technical participation in international food standard development and allows the country to contribute to future policies governing emerging food products.
Why This Matters
Codex standards are widely used as international reference points for food quality and safety. Many countries rely on these standards when developing import regulations, making them important for exporters seeking access to global markets.
For India’s spice industry, internationally recognised standards can reduce technical trade barriers, improve consistency in product quality, and strengthen the country’s position in global agricultural exports. India’s expanded role in Codex also signals its increasing influence in the development of international food standards that shape global food trade.
Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry
