This article is general information only. It is not legal advice, does not create an advocate-client relationship, and is not an advertisement or solicitation.
Contents
Why this matters for Kerala exporters
Pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric and nutmeg leave Kerala in large volumes, and most small and mid-sized exporters think of compliance as a customs exercise. Importing countries now treat it as a food safety exercise, and they decide it at their own border. A consignment that is perfectly legal to ship from Kochi can still be held, destroyed or returned abroad.
We have already covered the basics of registrations, duty and testing for spice exports from Kerala and how to protect a brand through trademarks and GI names. This note looks at two destination markets where the Spices Board has recently issued specific advisories.
The UK: certificates and checks
In an advisory dated 25 November 2025, the Spices Board told exporters that UK Regulation 2025 No. 1162 changes the official certificate requirements for several spice categories from 1 January 2026. As described by the Board, items such as ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, bay leaves and curry powder now need an analytical report covering listed pesticide residues and ethylene oxide, and the share of consignments checked at the border rises. Seeds such as fennel, coriander and cumin, and nutmeg, mace and cardamom, also face higher checking rates.
The Board also noted that it was still seeking clarity from the UK on parts of the implementation, and that an interim sampling arrangement was only proposed. Exporters should read the current advisory on the Spices Board website and the UK regulation itself rather than rely on summaries, including this one.
China: registration and residue limits
A Spices Board trade advisory dated 23 June 2026 (reference 03/2026-27) addresses exports of spices and spice products to China. It reminds exporters that consignments must comply with China's national food safety standards, in particular the maximum residue levels for pesticides, and states that non-compliance may invite stringent regulatory measures, including suspension of the registration the Board says is required for China. The advisory rests on the Spices Board Act, 1986 and the Spices Board (Registration of Exporters) Regulations, 1989.
| Market | Source | Main point for exporters |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Spices Board advisory, 25 November 2025; UK Regulation 2025 No. 1162 | Analytical reports and higher border checks for listed spices from 1 January 2026 |
| China | Spices Board advisory 03/2026-27, 23 June 2026 | Residue compliance is linked to registration; suspension is a stated possibility |
Where the contract decides the risk
Regulation sets the standard, but the contract decides who pays when a consignment fails. Many export contracts from small exporters are a purchase order and an invoice. That leaves open questions that matter when a test result is disputed.
First, which laboratory result governs: the exporter's pre-shipment report or the buyer's border test? Second, who pays for retesting, storage, return or destruction? Third, is the buyer entitled to reject a whole container on one failed sample, or only the affected lot? Fourth, which law and which forum apply, and is there an arbitration clause with a seat the exporter can realistically attend? A sample clause could read: "The analytical report issued by the agreed laboratory before shipment shall be conclusive as to residue levels at the time of loading, subject to the buyer's right to test a retained sample at an accredited laboratory named in this contract."
Exporters should also keep batch records, farm or supplier declarations and retained samples for every lot. If a rejection is contested, these documents are the evidence.
Questions exporters ask
Does Spices Board registration alone make a consignment compliant abroad?
No. Registration is a condition for exporting, while the importing country applies its own limits and checks at its border. Both must be satisfied.
Can a buyer reject an entire container for one failed sample?
It depends on the contract and the importing country's law. A clause that deals with lot-wise rejection and retesting reduces the dispute risk.
Where do contract disputes with a foreign buyer usually go?
Usually to arbitration or to the court named in the contract. Without a clause, the question of forum becomes a dispute of its own.
Questions on a specific matter depend on the facts, and advice should be taken before acting.