Glossary
Trade, spice and export terminology used across this knowledge hub.
Aflatoxin
Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain Aspergillus mold species that can contaminate crops such as chillies, spices, groundnuts and cereals, particularly under poor storage or moisture conditions.
APEDA
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is an Indian government body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for promoting and regulating the export of scheduled agricultural and processed food products, including many spices and food commodities.
ASTA
ASTA refers to the American Spice Trade Association, and 'ASTA colour value' is a standardized method (ASTA analytical method) for measuring the red colour extract of chilli and paprika products.
BL (Bill of Lading)
A Bill of Lading is a document issued by a carrier (or its agent) to a shipper, acknowledging receipt of cargo for shipment and serving as a contract of carriage and, in negotiable form, a document of title to the goods.
CFR (Cost and Freight)
CFR is an Incoterms rule under which the seller pays the costs and freight needed to bring goods to the named port of destination, but risk transfers to the buyer once the goods are loaded on board the vessel at the port of origin.
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
CIF is an Incoterms rule similar to CFR, except the seller must also procure minimum marine insurance cover for the goods during transit to the named port of destination.
COA (Certificate of Analysis)
A Certificate of Analysis is a document, typically issued by a laboratory, that reports the test results of a product sample against agreed or standard quality parameters such as moisture, purity, contamination and microbiological limits.
Container
A container is a standardized, reusable steel or aluminum box used to transport goods by sea, rail and road, most commonly in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes, including specialized types for particular cargo.
COO (Certificate of Origin)
A Certificate of Origin is a document certifying the country in which the goods were produced or manufactured, often required by customs authorities to determine duty treatment or eligibility under trade agreements.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the primary yellow-orange pigment compound found in turmeric, commonly used as an indicator of turmeric quality and, in higher-purity extracted forms, valued for colour and functional applications.
Customs
Customs refers to the government authority responsible for regulating and controlling the flow of goods, including imports and exports, across a country's borders, and for collecting applicable duties and taxes.
FCL (Full Container Load)
FCL refers to a shipment that occupies an entire container booked exclusively for one shipper's cargo, as opposed to sharing container space with other shippers' cargo.
FOB (Free on Board)
FOB is an Incoterms rule for sea and inland waterway transport where the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment; risk transfers to the buyer at that point, and the buyer arranges and pays for the main carriage.
Foreign Matter
Foreign matter refers to any extraneous material present in a spice or food consignment that is not part of the intended product, such as stones, dust, plant debris, or other admixture.
FSSAI
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the national regulatory body that sets standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import in India.
HS Code
The Harmonized System (HS) Code is an internationally standardized numerical classification system for traded products, maintained by the World Customs Organization and used by customs authorities worldwide to identify goods.
IEC (Import Export Code)
The Import Export Code is a mandatory business identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Government of India, required to import or export goods from India.
Incoterms
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are a set of standardized three-letter trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define the responsibilities, costs and risk transfer points between buyers and sellers in international sales contracts.
LC (Letter of Credit)
A Letter of Credit is a payment instrument issued by a buyer's bank guaranteeing payment to the seller, provided the seller presents documents that strictly comply with the terms and conditions stated in the LC.
LCL (Less than Container Load)
LCL refers to a shipment that does not fill an entire container and is consolidated with cargo from other shippers by a freight forwarder or consolidator.
Mesh Size
Mesh size describes the particle size distribution of a powdered or granulated product, based on the size of the sieve openings a product passes through, expressed as a mesh number.
Moisture
Moisture content refers to the percentage of water present in a spice or food product, measured as part of standard quality testing.
Phytosanitary Certificate
A Phytosanitary Certificate is an official document issued by a plant protection authority in the exporting country, certifying that a consignment of plants or plant products meets the phytosanitary import requirements of the destination country.
Shipping Bill
A Shipping Bill is the primary export document filed electronically with Indian Customs, required to obtain permission ('Let Export Order') for goods to be exported from India.
SHU (Scoville Heat Units)
Scoville Heat Units measure the pungency (heat level) of chilli and chilli-derived products, based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, typically determined through HPLC laboratory analysis today rather than the original organoleptic Scoville test.
TT (Telegraphic Transfer)
Telegraphic Transfer refers to an electronic bank-to-bank funds transfer, commonly used in international trade for advance payments, balance payments, or open account settlement.