Tea Board pushes for quality check of brew from Nepal

Amid worries that CTC assortment from Nepal was getting marketed as Darjeeling tea to shoppers, Tea Board has questioned the Commissioner of Customs, Kolkata (Land), to look at the quality of brew arriving from that country at FSSAI-accredited laboratories.

In accordance to a Tea Board official, brew from the neighbouring country can’t be banned as the treaty signed amongst the two countries has provisions for its import. Less than the treaty, India imports tea from Nepal at zero obligation, the official stated.

“As the plucking year in Darjeeling has arrived, we have questioned the Customs department to look at if the quality of tea from Nepal conforms to FSSAI parameters,” he instructed PTI on Tuesday.

Arun Kumar Ray, Deputy Chairman of Tea Board, stated the company has sought help from a laboratory in Mumbai, which can differentiate amongst Darjeeling and Nepal teas.

“We have questioned the Customs authorities to discard tea coming from Nepal if it does not comply with the FSSAI norms,” Ray stated.

Even though Darjeeling produces all-around 9 million kg of orthodox assortment per year, virtually an equivalent amount of money of the brew is imported from Nepal underneath the treaty.

Secretary-common of the Indian Tea Affiliation (ITA) Arijit Raha stated that the entire quantity of tea from Nepal must be carefully checked at the land customs points. “Any attempt to promote Nepalese CTC assortment as Darjeeling must be thwarted,” he stated.

Earlier, Ray had stated traceability of Darjeeling tea was a result in for problem, and the ITA has expressed doubts in excess of the quality of tea getting marketed in the current market. He had also prompt that the entire quantity of Darjeeling tea manufactured be marketed as a result of auction to find out the actual cost and quit harmful procedures.

In 2019, all-around 8 million kg of Darjeeling tea was manufactured, of which 4 million kg was exported.