Kochi (PTI): India was keen on making inroads into China's organic ginger export market, Spices Board chairman, V J Kurien said on Wednesday.

China gives competition to India in ginger and garlic.

Chinese Ginger is mainly exported to Japan with about 100,000 tonnes being sent last year. "We will like to make inroads in this market, which is mainly organic," Kurien told reporters here.

On competition from Vietnam, he said it was mainly in pepper and a little in Ginger. India had the advantage in the spices processing sector.

The Board was planning to formulate standards in food safety in the coming years, he said.

The board was also in the pocess of releasing two new varieties of cardamom within the next six months, he said.