Mandatory sampling and testing procedure chilli/and chilli products of Export consignments under the Registration of (exporters) Amendment Regulations 2004 - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 63/2005

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PORT) CUSTOM HOUSE, NO.60 RAJAJI SALAI CHENNAI - 600 001 Issued from F. S. Misc.1016/EDC Date: 02-05-2005 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 63/2005 Sub: Mandatory sampling and testing procedure chilli/and chilli products of Export consignments under the Registration of (exporters) Amendment Regulations 2004-reg Attention of the trading public, exporters and C. H. Ais invited to the public notice 156/04 dt. 28.10.2004 on the above subject. In modification of the guidelines issued by the spice Board, Cochin, further instructions and guidelines issued on the subject in Circulars No.MD/CHI/01/03 dt/03.03.2005 and Circular in even no.dt .07.03.2005 of Spice Board are reproduced below for strict adherence, on the export consignments of chilli/chilli products:- The regime of mandatory sampling of Consignment all samples of chilli powder /products containing chilli powders are tested for Sudan II to Sudan IV also. To ensure that there is minimal disruption of trade, exporters were provided the option of effecting the shipment, pending receipt of analytical report, subject to the condition that if the sample is non-compliant, the consignment will be recalled at the risk and cost of the exporter. Spice Board gas since procured and installed additional equipments and in a such position to give analytical reports with respect to the samples collected under this system with in 24 hours of the receipt of the samples at its laboratory in Cochin. Therefore, it has been decided that with effect from 10.03.2005, consignments of chillies, chill products or other food products containing chilli in whatever form shall not be exported unless the exporter has been given a certificate by the Spices Board to the effect that the consignment to be exported is free of Sudan 1 to IV, that it does not contain Aflatoxin beyond levels and therefore is fit for export to the intended destination. This would imply that after drawing the samples, the consignment should be stack sealed if it is not containerized immediately after samples are drawn. In other cases container stuffing need to take place only if confirmation is available that the consignment is fit to be exported. In the letter case, quality evaluation laboratory (QEL) HO Spices Board shall send the analytical report to the concerned office of Spices board Which shall incorporate the container number in the relevant column of the analytical report and shall affix the seal and signature of the authorized officer before handing over the certificate to the concerned exporter on conclusion of the stuffing. Where material was already containerized at the time of the drawal of samples, the number of the container shall be mentioned in the analytical report by QEL. Container should invariably be stuffed in the presence of the staff of the Spices Board / designated agencies. To facilitate proper sampling without loss of time, exporters are required to stack bags containing any of the above products only in rows of two and not more than a height of seven feet enough working space between the rows. This issues under the provisions of the spice Board (Registration of Exporters) Amendment Regulations, 2004. The partial modification of the above Circular dt.03.03.2005, Spice Board had clarified in their circular dt.07.03.2005 that the certificate from the spice board to the effect that the consignments to be exported is free of Sudan 1 to IV is not required in the case of consignments consisting entirely of whole chillies with or with out stem. The stipulation that no consignment of chillies, chilli products or other food products containing chilli products in whatsoever form shall be exported unless a certificate is issued by the Spices Board to the effect that the consignment does not contain Aflatoxin beyond acceptable levels and therefore is fit for export to the intended destination shall apply with effect from the notified date of 10.03.2005 with expect to the shipments to the EU, US and Middle East shall not be made till 01.04.2005 with out a certificate from Spices Board / authorized agency that a sample has been drawn from consignment for analysis by the agency nominated by Spices Board as per our earlier circular No. MD/CHI/01/03 dated 9th September 2004. With effect from 10.03.2005 exports of Chilli powder /Chilli products and other food products containing chilli products shall be undertaken only if the consignment is certified to be free of Sudan I Iv by the Spices Board. (SD.) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (EXPORTS)