ASTA Clean, Safe Spices Guidance Document

The IOSTA Good Agricultural Practices Guide was developed as a joint project by members of the International Organization of Spice Trade Associations (IOSTA). The English version was updated in May of 2020 to make minor clarifications and add additional references and resources. The guidance reflects U.S. regulations and issues specific to exporting to the U.S. and provides recommendations on how to mitigate mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues, allergens, and microbiological and environmental contamination. Versions in Vietnamese, French, and Spanish are also included and are based on an earlier 2016 version.

ASTA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Guide for Spices was revised in January 2023 to align with new FSMA cGMP provisions. The goal of this document is to provide the spice industry with a tool to highlight and focus on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) critical for the safe production of spices and provide an overview of domestic and global food safety and hygiene principles. The guidance was initially published in 2015 and then revised in 2023 to align with the Food and Drug Administration’s current Good Manufacturing practices.