Activities of various government departments, and the pace at which
decisions on vital issues related to people's health are taken, show
they are not serious about the real problems of the people, rather they
try to shift the responsibility of their duties on others.
It is a known fact that Kerala
is the largest producer of cinnamon and the biggest producer of
Ayurvedic medicines in the country. Cinnamon is used in more than twenty
Ayurvedic medicines. Cassia and cinnamon are permitted to be imported
into the country for domestic consumption and for export processing as
well.
The botanical name of cassia is Cinnamomum Cassia Blume and that of
Cinnamon is Cinnamomum Zeylanicum BreynI. Normally the Cassia is
misnamed and mistaken as cinnamon and marketed to the consumers through
retail outlets. Cassia reportedly creates health problems like kidney
and lever damages.
After receiving some representations, the Spice Board, Kochi, informed the Director of Foreign Trade, Govt of India, New Delhi that the Cassia is far below than Cinnamon, and that the traders misuse and get an opportunity for their monetary benefits by wrong declaration of the product. Therefore, it was suggested that Cassia should be listed as ‘restricted item’ for imports.
Leonard John, a Cinnamon planter from Kannur, Kerala, wanted to know the action taken by the Government of India under the Right to Information Act (RTI) pertaining to ban on import of Cassia from China and Indonesia. He found that no checking and implementation of the order of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi has been done and no action has been taken on the report.
According to the Spice Board, India requires 12,000 MT of True Cinnamon for domestic use and export. India produces 2,000 MT of True Cinnamon and rest is imported from Sri Lanka which produces, 70,000 MT per year from 67,000 acres of land at Rs.200 per kg. It is used in more than 20 Ayurvedic medicines.
Cassia, the fake cinnamon is product of poisonous trees from the forests and harmful to health of human beings. A rough distinction can be made between two types of Cinnamon. Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon only contains low levels of Coumarin which are safe from risk of assessment perspective. By contrast, Cassia Cinnamon contains high levels of Coumarin and large amounts of this Cinnamon should not be eaten. It is to be mentioned here that True Cinnamon cultivation has reduced within ten years in Kannur from 1000 acres to 700 acres, and in Malapuram district, it has reduced from 200 acres to 10 acres.
It is strange that Indians are not able to purchase Cinnamon at Rs. 350 per kg and USA is able to sell it to us at Rs. 4,500 per kg. Millions of Indians are forced to buy Cassia instead of True Cinnamon and the people engaged in plantation of True Cinnamon are left to die unnatural death.
After receiving some representations, the Spice Board, Kochi, informed the Director of Foreign Trade, Govt of India, New Delhi that the Cassia is far below than Cinnamon, and that the traders misuse and get an opportunity for their monetary benefits by wrong declaration of the product. Therefore, it was suggested that Cassia should be listed as ‘restricted item’ for imports.
Leonard John, a Cinnamon planter from Kannur, Kerala, wanted to know the action taken by the Government of India under the Right to Information Act (RTI) pertaining to ban on import of Cassia from China and Indonesia. He found that no checking and implementation of the order of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi has been done and no action has been taken on the report.
According to the Spice Board, India requires 12,000 MT of True Cinnamon for domestic use and export. India produces 2,000 MT of True Cinnamon and rest is imported from Sri Lanka which produces, 70,000 MT per year from 67,000 acres of land at Rs.200 per kg. It is used in more than 20 Ayurvedic medicines.
Cassia, the fake cinnamon is product of poisonous trees from the forests and harmful to health of human beings. A rough distinction can be made between two types of Cinnamon. Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon only contains low levels of Coumarin which are safe from risk of assessment perspective. By contrast, Cassia Cinnamon contains high levels of Coumarin and large amounts of this Cinnamon should not be eaten. It is to be mentioned here that True Cinnamon cultivation has reduced within ten years in Kannur from 1000 acres to 700 acres, and in Malapuram district, it has reduced from 200 acres to 10 acres.
It is strange that Indians are not able to purchase Cinnamon at Rs. 350 per kg and USA is able to sell it to us at Rs. 4,500 per kg. Millions of Indians are forced to buy Cassia instead of True Cinnamon and the people engaged in plantation of True Cinnamon are left to die unnatural death.
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