India has achieved a major milestone in global food standard-setting after the Forty-Ninth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49) adopted three new international Codex standards for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla. The session was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from **6 to 10 July 2026.
In another significant development, India was appointed Co-Chair of a newly established Electronic Working Group (EWG) on risk analysis for new food products, underscoring the country’s growing influence in shaping international food safety standards.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), jointly established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), develops science-based international food safety and quality standards to protect consumers and facilitate fair global food trade.
India plays a prominent role in Codex activities by hosting the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), one of the five Codex commodity committees. The Spices Board serves as the Secretariat for the committee. The standards for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla were finalized during the Eighth Session of the CCSCH held in Guwahati in October 2025 before receiving approval from relevant Codex committees on analysis, food additives and food labelling.
The newly adopted standards establish harmonized international quality benchmarks for the three spices, which are expected to streamline global trade by ensuring consistent quality requirements across markets.
For India, a leading producer and exporter of large cardamom and coriander, the standards are expected to improve market access, strengthen export competitiveness and promote fair trade practices. The standard for large cardamom is particularly noteworthy as the crop is indigenous to India’s North-Eastern Himalayan region. The coriander standard further reinforces India’s position as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of the spice.
Although India imports a significant share of its vanilla requirements, the new Codex standard provides an internationally recognized quality framework that is expected to enhance consistency in global trade and boost consumer confidence.
The Commission also established an Electronic Working Group (EWG) to develop policy guidance on risk analysis for new food products. While the European Union will chair the group, India will serve as Co-Chair, reflecting its expanding technical expertise and active role in international food standard development.
The twin achievements reinforce India’s commitment to advancing science-based global food standards, protecting consumer interests, promoting fair international trade and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian agricultural and food products in global markets.
