What is the Tea Board doing about cheap tea imports?

The Tea Board will implement 100% quality testing for all imported tea to prevent the entry of inferior quality products.

Which countries are supplying cheap tea imports to India?

Cheap and poor quality tea imports are reportedly coming from countries such as Nepal and Vietnam.

How will the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme benefit growers?

The scheme has an outlay of ₹1,500 crore for the next five years and will extend benefits to small tea growers.

Home / Business and Economy / Tea Board Vows 100% Import Quality Checks

Tea Board Vows 100% Import Quality Checks

3 Jan

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Summary

100% quality testing for tea imports to stop cheap varieties.
Cheap imports from Nepal and Vietnam harm the Indian tea industry.
₹1,500 crore allocated for tea development, benefiting small growers.

Tea Board Vows 100% Import Quality Checks

The Indian Tea Board is set to enforce stringent 100% quality testing on all tea imports to prevent the entry of cheap, sub-standard products. This move comes in response to industry concerns that inferior teas from countries like Nepal and Vietnam are undermining the domestic market and harming producers, especially in regions like Darjeeling.

The Tea Board will act as a facilitator, supporting the industry through measures such as generic promotion of Indian tea globally. A significant initiative includes the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme, allocating ₹1,500 crore over the next five years to support the sector, with a focus on extending benefits to small tea growers.

Industry leaders highlight the critical need to restrict duty-free imports of cheap teas, emphasizing that this is crucial for the survival of the Darjeeling tea industry. Stakeholders also suggest worker participation through equity in managing closed gardens as a viable strategy for industry resilience and survival.