Coriander seeds specification for export: limits, grade names and a sheet format

Key takeaways

• FSSAI sets 8 limits for whole coriander. These are the legal floor [1].
• Grade names aren't specs. Eagle means different things to different sellers, so add numbers.
• Split is a price point. The legal limit is high, and many buyers will want less.
• The UAE and Malaysia are the big buyers. Together they took about 38% of India's coriander in 2025-26 [6].

What are the limits for coriander seeds?

FSSAI clause 2.9.7 covers whole coriander, the dried mature fruits of Coriandrum sativum L. [1]:

The clause also sets what must be absent: mould, living and dead insects, insect fragments, rodent contamination and added colouring matter [1].

Microbiological limits apply too. For dried spices, Appendix B includes Salmonella absent in 25 g [2].

What do Eagle, Scooter and Badami really tell a buyer?

Less than you might think. You'll know these as trade names for seed colour and boldness. They don't appear in FSSAI's coriander clause [1], and the seller listings we checked quoted different purity figures for the same name.

So use the name, then back it with numbers:

Send a sample with the numbers. Colour is hard to describe, so a lot-numbered sample settles it. Our guide on sending export samples covers the method.

What do export markets add?

The EU has the clearest rule. After the June 2026 update, coriander from India stays in Annex II for ethylene oxide. That means laboratory analysis and an official certificate with each consignment, and checks on 20% of consignments at the border [4]. The limit for coriander seed is 0.10 mg/kg [5]. See our guide to ethylene oxide in Indian spices.

Know where the volume goes. India exported 60,211 tonnes of coriander in 2025-26 [6]. These figures combine seed and powder:

Watch the UAE trend. Volumes there have fallen for two years running, while Malaysia has held steady [6].

What should a coriander seed spec sheet include?

Keep it to one page per grade. Use this order:

Product: Coriander seeds, whole, [trade name if used]
Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum L.
Origin: [State, India], crop year [__]
HS code: 0909 21 90 (confirm with your CHA)
Purity: min [__]%
Split fruits: max [__]%
Damaged or discoloured: max [__]%
Moisture: max [__]%
Volatile oil: [__]% v/w, dry basis, [method]
Seed size: [__] mm
Colour: [describe, reference sample lot]
Salmonella: absent in 25 g, [lab, report number]
Ethylene oxide: [result], [lab, report number]
Packing: [bag type, net weight]
Version: [date], Lot: [number]

Check your HS line. Spices Board's list has 0909 21 10 for seed of seed quality and 0909 21 90 for other whole coriander [3]. Most food-grade lots would sit in the second, but confirm it with your CHA.

Don't copy the legal limit onto your sheet. Use a figure your lots actually meet, because a buyer's lab will test your sample against it.

Which mistakes cost the most?

• Selling on a grade name alone. A dispute over "Eagle" has no number to settle it.
• Using powder limits for seed. Our coriander powder guide shows how they differ.
• Quoting last season's test. Date every result and tie it to a lot.
• No crop year. Colour changes with storage, so buyers want to know.

Next step. Before a buyer reads your sheet, they usually check your company. Our free Buyer Check is a 1-page report on your Google listing, website and spec gaps, with the 3 fixes that matter most, within 24 hours.