Fennel Grades Explained
What fennel seed is graded on, the EU baseline it must meet, and the order sizes buyers ship, with unverified grade bands kept out.
Fennel baseline and order-size table
Fennel seed is traded out of the same seed-spice markets as cumin and coriander and is graded on colour (green versus yellow), seed size and shape, purity and moisture. The firm, sourceable figures are the EU baseline limits and the trade order sizes.
| Requirement / practice | Value | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ethylene oxide | 0.1 mg/kg (banned pesticide) | EU limit |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | EU limit |
| Sample order | 50-100 kg | Trade practice |
| Sea LCL | 1-5 MT | Trade practice |
| 20ft FCL (dense seed spice) | 18-22 MT | Trade practice |
How fennel is specified
- Colour: bright green fennel prices above yellowing or dull seed and is bought for premium mouth-freshener and retail packs.
- Size and shape: bold, long, uniform seed versus small or broken seed.
- Origin: Gujarat unjha, Asia largest seed-spice market, is the main assembly and pricing point for Indian fennel.
- Moisture and purity: kept tight to protect aroma and to meet EU cleanliness expectations.
Buyer note
Because fennel shares a harvest and cleaning profile with cumin, treat weed-seed and residue control seriously and put colour target, purity, moisture and a residue clause on the contract rather than relying on an unstandardised grade name.
Frequently asked
How is fennel seed graded?
On colour (green vs yellow), seed size and shape, purity and moisture, specified per contract. Bright green bold seed prices highest. Most Indian fennel is assembled and priced at Unjha in Gujarat.
Sourcing this? Tell us the spice, grade and destination and we return a documented offer — vetted supply, QC oversight, and the test dossier your market needs.
Start a sourcing enquiry →What this page does not tell you
- Fennel grade bands
- Numeric size and colour grade bands (e.g. Europe vs Singapore quality) for fennel are not in our verified set and are not printed.
- PA limit applicability to fennel
- Whether the 400 µg/kg pyrrolizidine limit is enforced on fennel specifically is not confirmed in our verified set, so it is not asserted.
Reviewed 16 July 2026.
Sources
- Reg. (EU) 2023/915 — maximum levels for certain contaminants· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16
- CBI — Entering the European market for spices and herbs· Tier 2, retrieved 2026-07-16
- Spices Board Act, 1986 — Schedule of spices· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16