Tea Board for strict adherence to quality issues

The Tea Board warned producers to adhere strictly to quality norms, else it would have to play policing role.
"Tea Board as regulator of the industry have a policing role. But we are not happy to do that. The industry should strictly adhere to the quality norms, failing which we will have to act as a regulator, particularly when it comes to exports," chairman of Tea Board Siddharth said.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Indian Tea Association (ITA) and Trustea here today, he said that the Tea Board would be more proactive in nature.
"There are problems relating to production, processing, marketing and R&D," he said.

The industry would have to address these issues and a roadmap would have to be drawn up for sustainability, Siddharth said.
Issues like Minimum Residue Limit (MRL) of pesticides would have to be followed for which Tea Board had already issued the pest control code, he said adding that time would be given to the industry to adopt the standards.

Stating that all the tea gardens across the country cannot switch over to organic farming as it was not possible.
"Use of pesticides will have to continue to counter pest attacks. But the nature of pesticides used and its quantity will have to monitored," he said.

He said the code would be made mandatory in future.