3 Codex standards finalized at 8th session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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3 Codex standards finalized at 8th session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)

Posted 18 Oct 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

Article Summary

The 8th CCSCH session finalized standards for vanilla, large cardamom, and coriander, adding to 19 spices, under the Codex Alimentarius for global food safety and trade practices.

With finalization of standards for vanilla, large cardamom and coriander, CCSHC has finalized standards for 19 spices.

  • CCHSC was established in 2013 at India's behest and operates under Codex Alimentarius commission (CAC).
    • India’s Spice board (ministry of commerce and industry),Kochi acts as its secretariat 

About Codex Standards

  • Definition: International food texts, i.e. standards, codes of hygienic practice, guidelines etc. established to protect health of consumers and to ensure fair practices in food trade.
    • The collection of food standards and related texts adopted by CAC is known as the Codex Alimentarius (CA).
  • Codex texts are not binding on national food legislation and are adopted in most cases by consensus among Members.
    •  However, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) of WTO identifies Codex standards as the international benchmark for food safety.

About CAC (HQ- Rome) 

  • Genesis: An international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and WHO in 1963.
  • Objective: Protecting consumer’s health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.
  • Members: 189 (188 Member Countries(Including India) and 1 Organization i.e. EU).
  • The Commission meets once a year alternating between Geneva and Rome.

About Vanilla

  • About:  High value spice crop from the orchid family, widely used as a flavoring in food and beverages.
    • It is a native  of Atlantic Coast from Mexico to Brazil
  • Production: Major producing countries are Madagascar, Indonesia, Mexico etc.
  • India: Mainly grown in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu & India is a net importer.
  • Growing conditions -
    • Altitude - Upto 1000 meters from sea level.
    • Climate: Warm and humid tropical climate (Temperature: 21–32°C; Humidity: 80%)
    • Rainfall - Well-distributed rainfall(2000-2500 mm annually) with dry period of 2 months
    • Soil: light, porous and friable soils with partial shade
  • Tags :
  • Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs
  • Codex Alimentarius (CA).
  • Vanilla
  • Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO
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