No carcinogens in Indian spices: Nath

India had imposed stringent norms regarding the use of colouring agents in spices bound for foreign markets and there was no possibility that chilli powder exported to the European Union could have carcinogenic substances in them, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said on Tuesday.

"No exports from India have carcinogenic substances," Nath said, reacting to reports that the UK had recently found Sudan-I, a cancer-causing colouring agent, in Indian chilli powder.

Since 2003, the Spice Board had imposed very stringent norms about colouring agents in exportable spices and consignments were passing through strict inspections, he said.

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If harmful samples had been found, they must be very old, supplied prior to 2003, he said, adding that such instances must not be used as a non-tariff barrier to exports of Indian spices, which had been meeting stringent EU standards.

The government was discussing the matter with concerned authorities, the minister said.

After 2003, when some exporters were suspended for using questionable colouring agents in chillies, Spice Board carried out inspections and customs department started disallowing consignments from leaving port if they did not carry the sampling certificate of the Board.