Use of spices, herbs and herbal products as a safe and natural dietary supplements and health product by consumer is showing an increasing trend in recent years. This has lead to a greater demand for these produce the world over. This in turn has resulted in a greater concern about the microbiological safety of these commodities. Irradiation by ionizing radiations such as gamma radiation and electron beam is the most effective method of decontaminating natural herbs and herbal products. Radiation processing is a cold process. It is an environmentally safe process and leaves no toxic residues unlike chemical fumigants such as ethylene oxide. The process does not cause any unacceptable changes in organoleptic properties or loss in active components. Irradiation can be applied as a sanitary and phytosanitory measure in international trade to hygienize spices, herbs and herbal products and to overcome quarantine barriers. A number of irradiation plants are coming up in India and it is for the trade and industry to take advantage of the benefit of this technology. Radiation processing holds considerable promise for hygienization and value addition of herbs and spices.