Ministry of Commerce And Supplies - Enhanced Integrated ...

N T I S2010The main proposal of the National Biosafety Framework policy document is the creation of a National BiosafetyCoordination Committee with membership of all current members of the SPS Committee (Figure 8.1) as wellas the DPR and Department of Drug Administration. This proposal is under discussion and has yet to betaken further.8.4 Commodity-Specific Issues for SPS-Sensitive Export PotentialsCardamomIntroductionLarge cardamom is an important cash crop of eastern Nepal, and there are opportunities to both intensify andexpand production areas. The price for cardamom has been good in recent years due to inadequate suppliesof large cardamom internationally. Both Sikkim and Bhutan have disease problems, which have reducedproduction. In addition, in Bhutan, farmers lost their right to cultivate crops in forest lands in 1992. There isno reason to believe that production in India will increase soon.Traditionally, large cardamom is cured in a ‘bhatti’ where the capsules are dried by direct heating. Under thissystem, cardamom comes in direct contact with smoke, which turns the capsules to a darker browner blackcolour with a smoky smell. Improved curing techniques are available by which cardamom is processed to givebetter quality and appearance. One such method is the improved bhatti system of curing in which cardamomis dried by indirect heating. Improved smokefree bhatti, which retains the original pink colour, is becomingmore known, though it needs to be further improved. While smoke-free bhatti has been heavily promoted, itis important to note that it is still not a distinct item in the market. Often, it is simply mixed into conventionallydried bhatti and thus loses its potential premium price.Production and trading is still the domain of small family-owned small businesses with limited forwardor backward linkages in the supply chain. India has been the primary export market for Nepalese largecardamom until recently, but other export opportunities are opening up. Exporters, by and large, need toimprove their performance in the areas of grading, quality assurance, further quality improvement, andmarket diversification. There is very limited support in the form of assistance in rejuvenation of existingplantations, scientific research, development of improved planting materials, extension training in pest anddisease control, and in improved Bhatti curing to make better quality produce.SPS IssuesLarge cardamom is used in food preparations mainly in north India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and in a smallway in the UAE, UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The enforcement of food safety laws in Asiancountries is not strict and the hygienic quality of large cardamom has never been an issue in those countries.This may be partly due to the reason that many countries in Asia have not examined large cardamom forcontaminants that could be introduced during cultivation, processing, and handling. The USA and EU, as wellas other developed nations, are yet to prescribe specifications for large cardamom. No specific standardprescribed for large cardamom has been set by CODEX, though the ISO has drawn up standards for theproduct. 1111ISO 10622 1997 (E), which prescribes moisture at 12% maximum 12%, volatile oil minimum 1%, total ash maximum 8% and acid insoluble ashmaximum 2% for capsules and seeds.NEPAL TRADE INTEGRATION STRATEGY 2010BACKGROUND REPORT195