Tea Board may modify past order on blending, change to help tea firms, TCPL

Existing notification bars blending imported tea with GI-tagged Indian varieties; Sources said commerce ministry left it to the Board to take a reasoned call on modification

The Tea Board India is likely to modify a notification that prohibited blending any imported tea with Indian varieties that are tagged with Geographical Indications (GI) and tripped domestic procurement of Darjeeling tea by its largest buyer, Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL).

Tea Board sources said that the Union commerce ministry left it to the Board to take a reasoned decision on the question of modification after consultation with stakeholders.

Following this, a meeting with producers and major customers including TCPL and Hindustan Unilever was held last Friday under the aegis of the Board. “The overwhelming view of the two