Nepal tea: Planters rue sample test system

MANAS RBANNERJEE, SNS, 24 OCTOBER 2019, SILIGURI: A group of planters are not happy with the Tea Board on two issues, including the way samples of Nepal tea are being collected from markets and the technique of the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) laboratory tests.

The second issue is the Tea Board's decision to stop payment of subsidy for development activities in tea estates.

In a meeting with officials of the union ministry of commerce and industry in Delhi recently. a group of planters in north Bengal demanded the due subsidy, it is learnt.

Planters demanded the same even when the Deputy Chairman of the Tea Board, Arun Kumar Ray was in Siliguri on 31 August this year. As some planters and traders raised the problem of Nepal tea flooding the markets, Ray instantly asked his officials to collect Nep al tea samples for FSSAI tests.

"Development activities in tea estates are necessary for improving the quality and quantity. It has come to a standstill due to the Tea Board's irrational approach. Sanction letters to small growers are, however, continuing," a senior planter said on condition of anonymity "RTGs (Registered tea Garden) are having to compete with the STGs (Small Tea Garden) where labour laws are virtually non-existent. Unhealthy competition with Nepal tea has added to the problems in the Darjeeling tea industry, and the situation in the Darjeeling tea estates is very volatile. Severe law and order problems may arise any moment if corrective measures are not taken by the Tea Board and the government immediately." the planter added.

"Does the Tea Board have any road map to assist closed tea estates in the Hills where 1000 of workers are in distress? Financial crunches mated by the Tea Board's irrational approach and the crisis inflicted by cheap, substandard and toxic Nepal tea being imported to Indian territory and sold as Darjeeling tea is leading to strained employer and employee relationship in the Hills," another owner of a Tea Estate said.

According to a circular issued by the Tea Board, (Ref No Law/ Per/ Nepal Tea/35/2014/ 2040/dated 20.11.2014) issued by the then Chairman of the Board, Siddharth, all traders importing tea into India for distribution across India will inform the nearest Tea Board office of the place of storage of such imported tea within 24 hours of the entry of such tea into India.

However, Para' b' and'c' of the circular is not being complied with by the distributors and retailers, it is alleged. The distributors are even required to file returns with the Tea Board and such tea has to be sold as Nepal tea and cannot be sold as Indian tea to consumers. Blenders or packeteers also have to mention that the blend comprises Nepal tea, a Tea Board official said.

A section of planters said Nepal's orthodox tea samples should be collected from the depots of the importers and not from shops.

A senior exporter, who is also a former owner of a tea estate in Darjeeling, said: "Tea testing in a laboratory and its analysis should be conducted in a broad spectrum. We exporters, for our safety, frequently send samples of tea gardens, to guarantee compliance with European food safety standards, to Germany, where laboratory tests are being done on 440 chemicals. The cost of analysis is Rs 25,000 per sample."

However, according to him, the system of sample collection of Tea Board officials here is very casual from shops and warehouses. "Generally, Tea Research Association (TRA) officials conduct an analysis on some chemicals which have been restricted for use in tea plantations. If they do not find those chemicals, it does not mean that collected samples have passed the FSSAI tests," he added.