Why EU buyers work with us
The EU is the world's strictest spice market. Rejections at Rotterdam or Hamburg over ethylene oxide residue, coumarin in cinnamon, or pesticide MRLs above Regulation 396/2005 limits have cost Indian exporters serious business in recent years — and cost EU buyers even more in wasted time and freight.
SpiceModo was built for this market. ETO is never used in our supply chain. Every lot destined for the EU is tested against pesticide MRLs for Germany, France, Netherlands, and UK specifically, plus aflatoxin and ochratoxin A screening on the standard EU Reg. 2023/915 categories. Ceylon cinnamon (true Cinnamomum verum, low-coumarin) is sourced directly from Sri Lanka for buyers who can't use Cassia.
What we ship to the EU
- Single-origin turmeric — Lakadong (7%+ curcumin) and Alleppey Finger (4%+ curcumin), NABL-tested, ETO-free.
- True Ceylon cinnamon — Cinnamomum verum from Galle and Matara, Sri Lanka. Low coumarin, EU-compliant for bakery and seasonal products.
- Malabar black pepper — Garbled Grade 1, 550+ g/L bulk density, 4.5%+ piperine.
- Specialty chilli — Bhut Jolokia, Kashmiri (low-capsaicin, high-color), Guntur.
- Cardamom, cloves, cumin, coriander, fenugreek — all EU-MRL screened.
- Retail packs in 50g, 100g, 200g with EU-format labels; bulk cartons 25kg/50kg for private-label and ingredient buyers.
EU compliance we handle
- EU Reg. 178/2002 — traceability and food safety framework compliance.
- EU Reg. 2023/915 — aflatoxin B1 below 5 µg/kg, total below 10 µg/kg; ochratoxin A below 20 µg/kg for Capsicum spp. and below 15 µg/kg for other dried spices. (Regulation 2023/915 replaced 1881/2006 on 25 May 2023; 1881/2006 remains assimilated law in Great Britain.)
- EU Reg. 396/2005 — pesticide Maximum Residue Limits screened pre-shipment.
- Coumarin limits — Ceylon true cinnamon used where regulation requires; Cassia clearly identified.
- Ethylene oxide (ETO) — never used; tested non-detect on every EU-bound lot.
- Salmonella — absent in 25g; every lot.
- ISPM-15 compliant pallets and fumigation certificate on wooden packaging.
- Phytosanitary and Health Certificates — standard with every shipment.
Logistics from India to EU
- Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) → Rotterdam — 18-22 days
- Nhava Sheva → Hamburg — 20-25 days
- Chennai → Antwerp — 22-26 days
- Nhava Sheva → Felixstowe (UK) — 22-28 days
- Air freight Hyderabad → Frankfurt / Amsterdam — 1-3 days for samples and specialty SKUs
Terms
Standard payment terms for EU buyers: 30% advance T/T and 70% against BL copy, or LC at sight for new relationships. Open account net-30 / net-60 for established accounts. Pricing FOB Nhava Sheva/Chennai or CIF destination port. MOQ from 500kg; 100kg on specialty SKUs. Pricing typically in EUR or USD.