WORLD SPICE CONGRESS

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Context:

• The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC), is to be held in Mumbai from 16-18 February 2023.

Details:

About:

• The World Spice Congress (WSC) is a Global Platform for discussion and interaction between importers, exporters, regulators and other stakeholders of the spice industry.

Inception:

• World Spice Congress was founded in the year 1990.

Organization of the Event:

• It is organized under the leadership of Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India with support from various trade and export forums.
• WSC is organized by the Spices Board with active participation of Spice Trade Associations in India like the Indian Spice & Foodstuff Exporters' Association –Mumbai, Indian Pepper and Spice Trade Association –Kochi, Indian Chamber of Commerce-Kolkata and Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholders - Unjha, Gujarat.

Significance:

• India is known as the ‘Spice Bowl’ of the world. It produces a number of quality, rare and medicinal spices.
• The WSC opens up newer opportunities to promote international trade of Indian spices.

WSC 2023 Highlights:

• The theme of the WSC 2023 is VISION 2030: S-P-I-C-E-S (Sustainability, Productivity, Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Safety).
• Maharashtra has been chosen as the Venue.

Reasons:

• • It is a one of the leading states producing spices.
  • It is the largest producer of turmeric in India.
  • Maharashtra produces two GI tagged turmeric varieties and one GI tagged chilli variety.
  • Coastal areas of Maharashtra are also known for production of GI tagged Kokum.
  • The state is one of the largest exporting hubs for spices.

The business sessions of WSC 2023 will focus on topics such as:

• India - The Spice Bowl for Global Market
• Perspectives on addressing Food safety & Quality Requirements for Spices (Presentation/Panel Discussion with Regulatory Authorities);
• Strengthening Global Spice Trade-Country Perspective & Opportunities
• Crops & Markets - Forecasts & Trends
• Spice Market outlook by International Spice Trade Associations.

The event will have:

• Awards Nights – Distribution of the prestigious Awards for excellence in export of spices
• Spice Experience Zone
• Authentic Indian Experiences– Cultural, Culinary
• Tech Talk Sessions and Product Launches

Spice Board of India:

• The Spices Boardis the Indian government regulatory and export promotion agency for Indian spices.
• It headed by a Chairman, rank equivalent to Joint Secretary to Government of India.
• The board is headquartered in Kochi. It is functioning under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Spices Board was constituted in 1987 under Spices Board Act 1986 with the responsibility of production/development of cardamom and export promotion of 52 spices listed in the schedule of the Act.
• The board has a state-of-the-art testing laboratory at its headquarters in Kochi. There are also regional laboratories at Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Tuticorin, Kandla and Guntur. Through the laboratories, the Spices Board makes mandatory quality checks for spices exported from India.

Main Functions of the Spice Board:

• Spice export development, promotion, and regulation.
• Providing certificates for spice exports and registering brokers.
• Implementing programmes and projects to promote spice export business.
• Aiding and encouraging studies and research for the improvement of process, quality, and spice packing technique.
• Attempting to stabilise the prices of spices for export.
• Quality control of spices for export.
• Providing licences to spice manufacturers for export, subject to the prescribed terms and conditions.
• Spice distribution.
• Providing spice warehousing facilities abroad.
• Gathering statistics on spices for compilation and publication.
• Developing appropriate quality standards and issuing a spices board registration certificate of quality for spices for export via “Quality Marking”.
• Importing spices for commercial sale without first obtaining permission from the Central Government.
• Advising the Central Government on issues concerning the export of spices.

Must Read:

‘SPICES STATISTICS AT A GLANCE 2021’

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/spices-statistics-at-a-glance-2021

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1890034#:~:text=14th%20Edition%20of%20the%20World,from%2016%2D18%20February%202023