Kerala - Kochi   

Spices Board to set up quality testing lab

KOCHI: The Spices Board will set up a quality-evaluation laboratory at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. Kochi-based consultants KITCO has been entrusted with the task of constructing the building for the laboratory.

The laboratory is expected to boost prospects for exporters of chilli and chilli products, apart from other spices such as ginger and pepper. Chilli is produced on a large-scale in Andhra Pradesh and Guntur has a market where large volumes of chilli and chilli products are traded.

The stipulations made by European countries on the quality of exported spices have been posing problems for exporters. There are stringent specifications for cleanliness of the produce, including moisture content, presence of ash and other extraneous matter, to check contaminants which have carcinogenic properties. The presence of Sudan I, a colouring substance, and aflatoxin, a toxin produced by fungi, in exported spices have been of particular concern to exporters.

The proposed laboratory will have facilities for evaluating the spices and will provide internationally accepted certificates. It will also help in grading and packaging the produce as per international standards.

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