Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that an Afghan processing company namely, Afghan Saffron Company was awarded the first place in producing quality saffron by the International Taste and Quality Institute.

The Ministry said that Afghan Saffron Company operates in the field of production, processing, packaging and marketing of saffron.

Ministry officials said that saffron is one the country's most important export goods. Saffron is exported to Germany and other European countries.

"Recently, Afghan Saffron Company's saffron got the 'world's highest quality rating' from the International Taste and Quality Institute for the quality of its saffron," Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan Muzammil Shinwari told TOLOnews.

The award was officially given to Mr. Humayun Tandar, Afghan Ambassador to Belgium as a representative for the Company.

The Institute has recognized 926 products out of 1200, including foodstuff and beverages as the world's quality products for 2013.

The Institute was founded in 2003 at Brussels and has recognised hundreds of quality products until now. A 14 member jury comprising of several food experts from around the world taste the products at a fair and rank the best ones.

The award and certificate of the Institute is valid until three years. The certificate holder can export its products to the European Union (EU) markets as well as markets around the world.

Last year, Afghanistan's saffron secured the first position among 16 other countries in terms of quality at an international exhibition.