Global Spice Regulatory Updates 2026: Key Developments in India, EU and US

The global spice trade is witnessing increasingly stringent food safety and regulatory requirements. Pesticide residues, aflatoxins, chemical contaminants and supply-chain traceability remain key areas of focus for importing countries. For Indian spice exporters, staying updated with these developments is essential to maintaining market access and preventing shipment rejections.

The following updates highlight important regulatory developments across India, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) during 2026.

1. India: Food Safety and Pre-shipment Requirements

FSSAI Amendment Regulations, 2026

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, on 25 May 2026. The amendments will come into force on 1 December 2026.

The amendment introduces changes concerning metal contaminants, naturally occurring toxic substances and antibiotic residues in specified food categories. It prescribes a saffrole limit of 10 for beverages and foods containing mace and/or nutmeg kernel as an ingredient.

Exporters and processors handling mace and nutmeg should review product formulations, ingredient specifications and applicable testing requirements to ensure compliance.

Sri Lanka – Aflatoxin testing for chilli exports

The Spices Board of India issued an advisory on 12th October 2026 introducing pre-shipment aflatoxin testing and clearance requirements for exports of whole chilli to Sri Lanka. Export consignments must undergo sampling and testing and be accompanied by a cleared analytical report issued by the Spices Board to obtain customs clearance. It is effective from 19th October 2026.

Exporters of chilli-containing products, including curry powders and masalas mentioning chilli powder, should also assess the applicability of destination-specific requirements before shipment.

2. European Union: Changes in pesticide MRLs and emerging contaminant requirements

The EU regulates pesticide residues under Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005. The regulation establishes Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for individual pesticides across different food commodities. Where no specific MRL is established, the default limit of 0.01 mg/kg generally applies.

A. Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam

The EU revised the MRLs for two pesticide molecules commonly used in chilli cultivation. The revised limits became effective on 7 March 2026.

The substantial reduction in permitted residue levels makes farm-level pesticide monitoring and pre-shipment multi-residue testing particularly important for dry red chilli exports.

B. Under Carbendazim and Thiophanate-methyl – Regulation (EU) 2026/1546

Under Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/1546, revised MRLs for benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl apply from 29 January 2027.

For the relevant spice categories, the revised values are:

No MRL change for benomyl in spices has been identified in the referenced update. Exporters should review the commodity-specific entries when assessing compliance.

C. Under Dimoxystrobin, Ethephon and Propamocarb – Regulation (EU) 2026/215

Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/215 introduced revised MRLs for ethephon, effective from 19 August 2026.

For spices, the reported changes include:

D. Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH)

The Spices Board issued Trade Advisory 04/2026-27 on 7 July 2026, highlighting proposed EU maximum levels for MOAH in spices and spice products intended for use as food ingredients.

The proposed phased limits are:

• From 1 January 2027: 10.0 mg/kg
• From 1 January 2030: 5.0 mg/kg

Potential contamination sources include processing equipment, machinery lubricants, packaging materials and storage environments. Exporters should evaluate contamination risks and strengthen preventive controls in anticipation of the proposed requirements.

3. United Kingdom: Withdrawal of Mepanipyrim approval

The UK is withdrawing approval for the pesticide active substance Mepanipyrim (fungicide used in chilli & peppers) effective 31 July 2026. It has led to a mandatory collapse of permitted chemical residue limits down to a strict analytical zero, i.e., 0.01 mg/kg.

4. United States: Azoxystrobin tolerance for black pepper

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), following a petition submitted by the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA), established an import tolerance of 1 mg/kg (1 ppm) for the fungicide Azoxystrobin in black pepper, effective December 8, 2025.

This establishes a permissible residue threshold for black pepper entering the US market and provides an important reference for exporters and importers when assessing pesticide residue compliance.

Strengthening compliance across the spice supply chain

These developments demonstrate that regulatory compliance is becoming increasingly commodity-specific and destination-dependent. A pesticide residue level acceptable in one market may exceed the permitted threshold in another.

Indian spice exporters should therefore prioritise farm-level pesticide monitoring, supplier verification, risk-based laboratory testing, appropriate processing and storage controls, and end-to-end traceability. Regular monitoring of regulatory notifications is equally important to identify changes before procurement and shipment.

Conclusion

As international food safety standards continue to evolve, maintaining export competitiveness requires more than meeting basic product specifications. Proactive regulatory monitoring, responsible sourcing, robust quality assurance and transparent supply-chain management will be essential for Indian spice exporters to maintain access to global markets and strengthen buyer confidence.