The Spices Board Act, 1986
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry / Department of Commerce
Act details
| Short title | The Spices Board Act, 1986 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the constitution of a Board for the development of export of spices and for the control of cardamom industry including the control of cultivation of cardamom and matters connected therewith. |
| Act number | 10 of 1986 |
| Act year | 1986 |
| Enactment date | 20 Mar 1986 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Commerce and Industry / Department of Commerce |
| Department | Department of Commerce |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 43 |
| Schedules | 1 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of the Spices Board Act, 1986
I. Establishment and Structure
• Act Name & Enactment: Spices Board Act, 1986, enacted by Parliament in the 37th Year of the Republic of India.
• Spices Board:
• Constituted by the Central Government.
• Body Corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
• Composition: Includes representatives from various stakeholders.
II. Functions of the Board
• Develop, promote, and regulate export of spices.
• Grant export certificates.
• Undertake promotional programs, research, and quality control.
• Specific to Cardamom:
• Promote co-operative efforts among growers.
• Ensure remunerative returns to growers.
• Regulate sale and stabilize prices.
III. Regulatory and Penal Provisions
• Export without Certificate: Prohibited.
• Penalties:
• For false returns, obstruction, and other contraventions.
• Adjudication of penalties.
• Offences by companies.
IV. Governance and Oversight
• Control by Central Government:
• Power to issue directions.
• Requirement for returns and reports.
• Rules and Regulations:
• Power vested in the Central Government and the Board, with provisions for laying them before Parliament.
• Protection and Immunity:
• Protection of action taken in good faith.
• Public servant status for Board members and employees.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Spices Board Act, 1986
Act Title - The Spices Board Act, 1986
Act Number/Year - 10 of 1986
Act ID (India Code) - 198610
Presidential Assent Date - March 20, 1986
Enforcement Date - February 26, 1987
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Precedent & Historical Rationale
Consolidation of Spice and Cardamom Administration:
Prior to 1986, the institutional structure governing the promotion and regulation of Indian spices was fragmented. Specifically, the Cardamom Board (established under the Cardamom Act, 1968) focused narrowly on cardamom, while the Spices Export Promotion Council (established in 1960) handled broader spice export marketing.
Need for a Unified Apex Body:
Recognizing the vast global market potential for Indian spices and the necessity for uniform quality control, unified export strategies, and centralized research and development, the government moved to amalgamate these separate entities. The objective was to create a single statutory board capable of overseeing the entire lifecycle—from cultivation and processing standardization to global export promotion—for an expanded list of scheduled spices.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
Formulation:
Drafted by the Ministry of Commerce to provide for the constitution of the Spices Board, merging the erstwhile Cardamom Board and the Spices Export Promotion Council, and vesting it with statutory powers to regulate production, control the cardamom industry, and drive aggressive international export marketing.
Parliamentary Passage:
Introduced, debated, and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in early 1986.
Presidential Assent: Received Presidential Assent on March 20, 1986.
Enforcement: Enforced on February 26, 1987.
Source: Official Records of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce).