World Spice Congress begins

KOCHI: The 11th World Spice Congress got under way in Pune on Thursday. Spices Board Chairman A Jayathilak inaugurated the congress, being jointly organised by the Spices Board of India and the All- India Spices Exporters Forum.The three-day event, which is deliberating on the theme ‘Sustainability and Food Safety- Global Initiatives’, is being attended by more than 300 delegates from India and around 200 from abroad. A spices exhibition was also inaugurated at the venue.Speaking after the inauguration, Jayathilak said that the biennial congress plays a crucial role in promoting production and business in the spices sector, by setting up a plan of action to raise food security and maintain sustainability in the industry. He added that the event will try to explore feasible methods and ideas that can be implemented in a practical manner. Chairman of the All-India Spices Exporters Forum Geemon Korah and organising secretary of the World Spice Congress P S S Thampi spoke on the occasion.Over the next two days, experts in the field will analyse, comprehend and recommend measures to solve the pressing problems being faced by the sector as a whole. Quality regulators from USFDA, the European Union, Canada and Japan are participating in the event. Processors, importers, traders, representatives of international trade organisations like the IPC and the All-Nippon Association of Japan are taking part in the deliberations.