They’re Banned Also in Singapore and Hong Kong

Newsreel Asia Insight #226
May 19, 2024

Nepal has banned the import and sale of several popular Indian spice brands, citing health concerns over contamination with ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical linked to cancer. This action follows similar bans imposed by Singapore and Hong Kong, according to Business Today.

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in Nepal announced on Saturday the immediate ban on four spice mixes from MDH and Everest. These products—MDH's Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Mixed Masala Powder, Mixed Masala Curry Powder, and Everest's Fish Curry Masala—were found to exceed the permissible limits of ethylene oxide, making them unsafe for consumption under Nepal’s Food Regulation 2027 B.S., as reported by The Kathmandu Post. The year 2027 B.S. (Bikram Sambat) in the Nepali calendar corresponds to the year 1970.

Concerns arose after media reports highlighted the sale of sub-standard products. Ethylene oxide, used as a pesticide and sterilizing agent, is associated with increased cancer risks, including lymphoma and leukaemia, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Matina Joshi Vaidya, director general of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, emphasized the public health implications. “We have banned the import and sale of these spice blends to protect public health,” The New Indian Express quoted Vaidya as saying. She added that the ban would be lifted only when Indian authorities confirm the products are safe.

This decision follows similar actions by Singapore and Hong Kong, which banned certain MDH and Everest spices last month. Ethylene oxide contamination in these products raised significant health concerns, leading to bans in multiple countries, including the Maldives and scrutiny in Australia.

Despite Nepal’s limited lab resources, the ban was necessary based on international scientific evidence. Both Everest and MDH, major players in the Indian spice market, denied any health hazards. MDH responded to the bans with a statement on social media platform X, claiming the allegations were baseless and unsupported by evidence.

In response to these developments, India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has initiated random testing of powdered spices across various states. The Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholders (FISS) warned that India’s spice exports could decline by nearly 40% in FY25 if the issue is not resolved swiftly.

India, a leading global spice producer, exported over 200 spices and value-added products worth $4 billion to approximately 180 countries in 2021-22, according to the Spices Board of India. The domestic spice market was valued at $10.44 billion in 2022 by Zion Market Research.

Nepal’s Department of Customs reported that in the last fiscal year ending mid-July 2023, the country imported 946.42 tonnes of various Everest brand spices, amounting to 120 million rupees, with 478 tonnes worth 74.65 million rupees coming from India alone. The imports of MDH brand spices amounted to 1,143.76 tonnes worth 637.21 million rupees, with 1,141.96 tonnes worth 635 million rupees imported from India.

Consumer rights activists in Nepal have called for urgent action due to the public health implications. Jyoti Baniya, chairman of the Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights, emphasised the need for immediate prohibition of the hazardous products. “As the products found hazardous to public health in Hong Kong and Singapore are widely available in Nepal too, it would be irresponsible to wait for a test report to prohibit their use,” the Post quoted Baniya as saying. “It will be too late to wait for the report—we should not forget that this is directly linked to public health.”

Following the ban, Nepal’s quality watchdog has started inspecting department stores and groceries to ensure the removal of the banned spices. The recall and seizure of these products, including those currently in the customs clearance process, are underway as per the directives from the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control.