National Workshop on Food Safety Standards in Coconut Value Chain Held at ICAR–CPCRI, RS Kayamkulam

11 March 2026, Kayamkulam

A one-day national workshop on “Issues and Challenges of Food Safety Standards in the Coconut Value Chain” was organized at the ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Kayamkulam, under the ICAR–NASF project on Global Value Chain Analysis of Plantation Crops of India with Special Emphasis on Food Safety Standards.

The workshop was presided over by Dr K. B. Hebbar, Director, ICAR–CPCRI, while Dr Sanu Jacob, Director, NFL–FSSAI, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The workshop brought together experts, policymakers, researchers, exporters, and industry representatives to deliberate on strengthening food safety standards and quality compliance to enhance the global competitiveness of coconut and coconut-based products. Participants included representatives from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Coconut Development Board, Export Inspection Agency, CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, and industry representatives such as Marico Ltd. and KLF Nirmal Pvt. Ltd., along with scientists and researchers of ICAR–CPCRI.

Deliberations emphasized the importance of compliance with international food safety regulations, strengthening testing and certification infrastructure, and adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)-based systems. The need for robust traceability mechanisms across the coconut value chain was also highlighted.

Key challenges discussed included product adulteration, contamination risks, high certification costs, supply chain constraints, and limited awareness of evolving international standards. The technical deliberations highlighted constraints faced by stakeholders in complying with international food safety standards, particularly the challenges encountered by small-scale producers and processors, along with gaps in quality infrastructure, especially in testing and certification facilities.

The workshop concluded with key recommendations to strengthen quality infrastructure, harmonize domestic standards with international norms, and enhance stakeholder awareness to support India’s coconut export sector.

(Source: ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod)