Tea Board Calls for Effective Adoption of Food Safety Standards by Industry

PTI, KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 : The Tea Board has called for the effective adoption of food safety standards, asserting that such measures will enable the industry to achieve long-term sustainability.

In the new Plant Protection Code (PPC) released by the board, it stated that food safety standards will also help the industry safeguard the plantation environment and ensure the welfare of workers and small farmers. The PPC aims to achieve sustainability through good agricultural practices, including integrated pest management and the promotion of alternative pest control strategies, to gradually reduce dependence on chemicals.

Large-scale adoption of integrated pest management from the very beginning of the season will be crucial in ensuring food safety and adequate crop protection, the Tea Board said. According to the board, consumers are now increasingly demanding products made without adversely impacting the environment. "Given this situation, there is a need for a judicious usage of plant protection formulations," it added.

The PPC document will help the industry by providing guidelines for the safe usage of plant protection formulations in tea cultivation. The Tea Board emphasized that compliance with the code will not only improve competitiveness among tea farms but will also facilitate them in meeting various national and international regulatory standards.