KOLKATA,: The Tea Board has announced that teas failing to meet the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) specifications will be withdrawn from auctions prior to the sale date.
In a recent circular, the Board stated that under the Tea (Marketing) Control Order of 2003, manufacturers are prohibited from producing teas that do not comply with FSSAI standards. Such batches will be removed from the auction schedule in advance.
The circular also instructed sellers of non-compliant teas to seek the Board’s approval for the destruction of these batches.
Previously, the Board had mandated that all dust-grade teas produced in a calendar year must be sold through the auction route. This measure aims to enhance transparency, stimulate demand, and improve price discovery for quality-compliant teas.
Tea trade bodies, including the Indian Tea Association (ITA) and the Tea Association of India (TAI), have welcomed the Board’s decision. According to TAI, dust-grade teas account for roughly 20% of total tea production in North India.
