Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has announced new statewide guidelines for the production, storage, transport and sale of spices, including a ban on the sale of unpackaged spices and strict action against businesses that violate food-safety requirements.
FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced the measures at a press conference on Thursday, saying the state would intensify controls on spices and spice-based products to reduce health risks for consumers. The announcement follows a series of inspections and enforcement actions involving adulterated paneer, milk, hotels, restaurants, school canteens and cooking oil, according to the report.
The guidelines prohibit the use of artificial colours, synthetic chemicals, sawdust and other adulterants in spices. The FDA also said that spices from which essential oils have been removed, as well as products considered substandard, cannot be sold. The use of ethylene oxide has also been prohibited under the measures announced by the department.
A key change concerns loose spices. The FDA has said that spices must be packaged and labelled, effectively ending the sale of unpackaged products across the state under the new instructions. The requirements apply to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and hotel operators involved in the spice trade.
The guidelines also prescribe conditions for drying and storing spices. Businesses cannot dry spices in public places, on asphalt roads, near drains, beside garbage dumps or close to animal enclosures. Storage areas must be clean and dry, and must not contain hazardous chemicals, artificial colours or poisonous substances, the FDA said.
The department has further directed businesses to maintain valid licences and ensure that employees receive appropriate safety training. These requirements place compliance responsibilities across the supply chain rather than limiting enforcement to manufacturers alone. Retailers, food-service establishments and distributors will also have to ensure that the products they handle meet the stated requirements.
Mundhe warned that violations could lead to the immediate cancellation of business licences. Businesses and vendors that breach the rules may also face legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including heavy fines and imprisonment, the report said.
The commissioner described the enforcement effort as part of the FDA’s “Safe Food, Safe Drugs” campaign and said the department would adopt a strict approach towards businesses that compromise consumer health. The announcement does not specify a separate implementation date or provide details of the inspection schedule in different districts.
The next stage will depend on how the FDA translates the statewide guidelines into inspections and enforcement across production units, markets, retail outlets and hotels. The department’s announced position is that businesses must comply with the packaging, labelling, licensing, storage and ingredient-safety requirements or face regulatory action.
