Lok Sabha Question No. 1060 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Import of Low Quality Tea
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1060 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  FEBRUARY, 2023

## IMPORT OF LOW  QUALITY TEA

## 1060.  SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य  एवं  उद्योग  मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Ministry  is  aware  that  low  quality  tea  is  being  imported  from  other countries into India, which is later labelled as Darjeeling Tea and sold in the world market;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the steps taken to stop import of spurious and low quality tea from other countries; and

(c) whether the Ministry intends to undertake to support the beleaguered tea planters, who are facing grave financial crisis due to non-payment of subsidies and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (c): Total imports of teas of other origin into India during the year 2021-22 were 25.97 Million Kgs.  Details of origin-wise teas imported in the country during the FY 2021-22 are provided at Annexure. Total production of tea in India during the FY 2021-22 was 1344.40 Million  Kgs.  and  the  imports  during  the  period  were  about  1.93%  of  the  total  domestic production.

Darjeeling Tea is protected by Certification Trade Mark and Geographical Indication and has a distinct logo. With regard to teas imported into India, the following actions have been taken:

- (i) The Tea Board issued instructions on 11.11.2021 directing all importers and buyers of tea to ensure that origin of imported tea to be mentioned in all their sale invoices and not to pass off imported tea as tea of Indian origin.
- (ii) All  distributors  and  blenders  of  tea  have  been  directed  that  the  label  should  clearly indicate on the packaging that the contents of the blended Tea are imported, giving the

source of origin of imported tea irrespective of whether the imported tea has been bought directly or through an intermediary.

- (iii) All importers importing tea into India for distribution in India shall inform about the place of storage of such imported tea to the nearest Tea Board Office within 24 hours of entry of such tea into India.
- (iv) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has conducted joint training of Tea  Board,  customs  officials  notified  as  authorized  officers  at  Land  Custom  Stations (LCS) and FSSAI for strengthening of food import clearance of tea from Nepal.

Tea Board is implementing the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme (TDPS) for the period 2021-22  to  2025-26  with  an  approved  financial  outlay  of  Rs.967.78  crores  for  holistic development of the tea industry. Tea Board disburses subsidies to eligible tea stakeholders as per  the  budget  provisions  and  approved  scheme  guidelines.  All  cases  where  subsidy  was sanctioned have been disbursed.

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## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No . 1060 for answer on 08 . 02 . 2023.

## ORIGIN-WISE TEAS IMPORTED DURING THE FY 2021-22

(Quantity in Million Kgs )

| Country        | 2021-22   |
|----------------|-----------|
| ARGENTINA      | 1.05      |
| AUSTRALIA      | 0.03      |
| CHINA          | 0.39      |
| GERMANY        | 0.02      |
| INDONESIA      | 0.89      |
| IRAN           | 0.36      |
| JAPAN          | 0.01      |
| KENYA          | 7.08      |
| MALAWI         | 0.28      |
| MALAYSIA       | -         |
| MOZAMBIQUE     | 0.10      |
| MYANMAR        | 0.04      |
| NEPAL          | 11.12     |
| NETHERLANDS    | 0.05      |
| RWANDA         | 0.15      |
| SOUTH AFRICA   | 0.00      |
| SRI LANKA      | 0.23      |
| TAIWAN         | 0.00      |
| TANZANIA       | 0.18      |
| TURKEY         | --        |
| U.A. E         | 0.60      |
| U.S. A         | 0.04      |
| UGANDA         | 0.07      |
| UNITED KINGDOM | 0.28      |
| VIETNAM        | 2.57      |
| ZIMBABWE       | 0.43      |
| TOTAL          | 25.97     |