UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Achieves Major Milestone at Codex Commission with Adoption of Three Global Standards for Spices

Q1. India's official delegation to the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49), where the standards for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla were adopted, was led by which body that also serves as India's National Codex Contact Point?

  • A. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
  • B. Spices Board of India
  • C. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
  • D. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Q2. The three new spice standards for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla, though technically finalised by the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs, were formally adopted in 2026 by which body?

  • A. The Codex Alimentarius Commission
  • B. The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)
  • C. The FAO Council
  • D. The World Health Assembly

Q3. The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), set up in 2013 as a Codex commodity committee, is hosted and chaired by which single country?

  • A. India
  • B. Indonesia
  • C. Guatemala
  • D. Sri Lanka

Q4. With reference to the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), consider the following statements: 1. CCSCH was established in 2013, whereas the parent Codex Alimentarius Commission itself was set up in 1963. 2. The Spices Board serves as the Secretariat of CCSCH, while the FSSAI is India's National Codex Contact Point for the Commission. 3. CCSCH is the only commodity committee functioning under the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. CCSCH was established in 2013, whereas the parent Codex Alimentarius Commission itself was set up in 1963.
  2. The Spices Board serves as the Secretariat of CCSCH, while the FSSAI is India's National Codex Contact Point for the Commission.
  3. CCSCH is the only commodity committee functioning under the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, consider the following statements: 1. It is a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 2. Codex standards are recognised under the WTO's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures as the international reference point for food safety. 3. The Commission's permanent secretariat is headquartered in Geneva. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
  2. Codex standards are recognised under the WTO's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures as the international reference point for food safety.
  3. The Commission's permanent secretariat is headquartered in Geneva.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, which adopted the three spice standards at CAC49, was established as a joint body of which two international organisations?

  • A. FAO and WHO
  • B. FAO and WTO
  • C. WHO and WTO
  • D. FAO and UNEP

Q7. Consider the following pairs relating to the sessions of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs: 1. 5th Session — conducted virtually 2. 7th Session — hosted at Kochi 3. 8th Session — hosted at Guwahati 4. 8th Session — finalised standards for small cardamom, turmeric and star anise Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. 5th Session — conducted virtually
  2. 7th Session — hosted at Kochi
  3. 8th Session — hosted at Guwahati
  4. 8th Session — finalised standards for small cardamom, turmeric and star anise
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q8. In the Codex Alimentarius system, CCSCH is classified as a 'commodity committee.' What does the term 'commodity committee' precisely denote?

  • A. A committee that elaborates standards for a specific food or food group
  • B. A committee that handles cross-cutting issues such as labelling and hygiene across all foods
  • C. A committee that coordinates Codex work within a defined geographical region
  • D. A committee that adjudicates trade disputes arising from food standards

Q9. With reference to the Spices Board of India, consider the following statements: 1. It functions as one of the Commodity Boards under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. 2. It was constituted in 1987 under the Spices Board Act, 1986. 3. Its head office is located at Kochi. 4. It was created by merging the erstwhile Cardamom Board and the Coffee Board. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It functions as one of the Commodity Boards under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
  2. It was constituted in 1987 under the Spices Board Act, 1986.
  3. Its head office is located at Kochi.
  4. It was created by merging the erstwhile Cardamom Board and the Coffee Board.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q10. Apart from the export promotion of the scheduled spices, the Spices Board has direct statutory responsibility for the production development of which one of the following?

  • A. Cardamom, both small and large
  • B. All 52 scheduled spices
  • C. Black pepper alone
  • D. Turmeric and chilli

Q11. With reference to the Electronic Working Group (EWG) in which India secured a leadership role at CAC49, consider the following statements: 1. India was elected Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems (NFPS). 2. The Working Group is mandated to review existing regulatory frameworks and identify gaps in Codex risk analysis principles. 3. The European Union serves as the Chair of this Working Group. 4. The Working Group functions as a subsidiary body under the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH). Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India was elected Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems (NFPS).
  2. The Working Group is mandated to review existing regulatory frameworks and identify gaps in Codex risk analysis principles.
  3. The European Union serves as the Chair of this Working Group.
  4. The Working Group functions as a subsidiary body under the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH).
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only