Green leaf standard would be as prescribed by the Tea Board, the apex body for the tea industry in India, from time to time to ensure that best quality teas are manufactured during the first flush season.

This is one of several directives issued by the board to the tea producers, buyers, packers, etc. in furtherance to these initiatives to maintain the quality of Indian tea.

The following are the other directives being issued:

Transportation of green leaf from a field to factory should be done at least two times a day

Green leaf should not be dumped in the transport vehicle and must be packed in leaf carriage bags upto the optimum capacity and stacked upto not more than three levels

Leaf should be transported to the factories within a reasonable time after plucking. wherver possible, the transportation of the green leaf is to be arranged by the factory

Factories should reject discoloured, bruised, fermented and scorched leaves

FSSAI standards for tea, including the MRLs (maximum residue limits) for various plant protection formulations permitted for tea, must be strictly adhered to by periodical checks

Tea Board will draw random samples from tea factories and from stocks of packeted and bulk tea stored in warehouses, to ascertain adherence to the quality standards

India is the second largest producer of tea in the world, and Indian tea is appreciated worldwide for its quality. It is relished by millions of people in India and abroad as a refreshing and rejoicing drink.

Tea occupies an important place not only because of its contribution to the country’s economy, but also because this sector provides livelihood to a large number of people.

Therefore, adherence to quality standards is of utmost importance in order to remain competitive in the globalised environment and sustain the industry by improving domestic consumption.

The cost of such sampling and analysis would have to be borne by the owner company. Those teas which fail to conform to the standards shall be treated as tea waste and shall be denatured and/or destroyed, and stringent action would also be initiated against the manufacturers or licensee as per the provisions of the Tea Act, 1953 including suspension/ cancellation of registration/licence, as the case may be.