Indian tea exports to Libya have failed to meet the norms laid down in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA). The lapse comes barely nine months after Libya lifted the ban on Indian tea. | |
| United Planters Association of Southern India (Upasi) officials said around 1.2 million kg of substandard tea was shipped out from the Tuticorin port on Tuesday despite warnings. |
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| They said, on November 10, based on complaints that the tea was already being loaded in the ship, Tea Board authorities had inspected the godown of the exporter at Coimbatore and took samples for testing. The warehouse during inspection had more than two million kg of the sub-standard tea, they said. |
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| While the Tea Board maintains the results are awaited, Upasi said tests at their nationally accredited laboratory at Coonoor had shown that the tea did not meet PFA parameters on water extract and crude fibre content. |
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| Upasi says that the tea marked as Indian origin is not pure Indian tea but blended with cheap imports. |
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| Tea Board said it is making all attempts to stop the shipment of the remaining quantities of tea lying at the godown and the port till all quality tests are done. |
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| Traders said that despite Upasi's complaint to the Tea Board and the commerce ministry , the consignment was shipped out. |
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| Tuticorin port authorities said, Tea Board officials did inspect the samples. |
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| "However, we has no official word from Customs to stop the consignment." It is learnt that Upasi had informed the additional secretary in the commerce ministry and the Tea Board chairman. |
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