The vice-chairman of the Tea Board stated low-cost and low-quality tea was being imported from nations resembling Nepal and Vietnam. File |Photograph Credit score: ANI
Tea Board Vice-Chairman C. Murugan on Saturday (January 3, 2026) promised to hold out 100% high quality inspection of imported merchandise to stop low-cost varieties from getting into the nation.
The trade complained that low-quality and low-cost imports have been coming into the nation, which was destroying the trade.
Addressing the biennial normal assembly of the Tea Affiliation of India (TAI), Murugan stated the board has formalized a process for 100% high quality testing of imported drinks.
“We’re constructing the infrastructure for this. It is going to take 15 to twenty days. Then we’ll get a authorized opinion, adopted by ministry (Ministry of Commerce) approval,” he stated.
He stated low-cost and poor high quality tea is being imported from nations resembling Nepal and Vietnam.
Murugan additionally stated the board will act as a liberalizer and facilitator of management over the trade. He stated the Tee Board would additionally not be concerned within the public sale system, however would facilitate the method.
He stated the board would attempt to popularize Indian tea in different nations as effectively.
Murugan stated that beneath the Tea Improvement Promotion Plan 2026, an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore is deliberate over the following 5 years, the advantages of which may even be prolonged to small-scale tea producers.
West Bengal Labor Secretary Avanindra Singh stated the tea trade was going by a troublesome section. “Low high quality and low-cost imports from Nepal are getting into the nation and the Darjeeling tea trade is being destroyed.”
He stated that in West Bengal, individuals with no expertise within the tea trade are buying massive tracts of land with gardens closed on account of illness at very low-cost costs.
“I enchantment to the trade to come back ahead to take over the closed tea estates in West Bengal. One of the simplest ways for the trade to outlive is for tea employees to take part within the administration of tea estates by offering capital,” he stated.
He says this may give employees a way of possession.
Singh stated that tea backyard employees have been but to be paid their wages and statutory dues, and referred to as on the backyard managers to pay these instantly.
TAI Chairman Sandeep Singhania stated there was a big improve in duty-free imports of low-cost and top quality tea. “These import restrictions are vital to the survival of the Darjeeling tea trade.”
