The export of tea during January-May, 2022 was 83.49 M. Kgs. (Value Rs. 2116.75 Crores) as compared to 77.26 M. Kgs. (Value Rs. 2036.37 Crores) during the corresponding period of last year, which shows a growth of 8.06% in volume and 3.94% in value term. As per quick estimates value of tea exports in June, 2022 is Rs. 500.03 Crores against Rs. 390.28 Crores in June, 2021 showing a growth of 28.12%.

It has been a continuous endeavour of the Tea Board and tea industry to strategize ways and means to ensure quality of tea being exported from India. The following measures are being undertaken by the Tea Board on sustained basis:

1. Enforcement of “Plant Protection Code (PPC)” in the plantations for “Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)” and the “Factory Safety Management System (FSMS)” at the factory level for “Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)”.
2. Mandatory testing of sampled teas (twice in a year) for checking conformance with the FSSAI parameters at the factory level
3. Regular awareness camps/workshops for small tea growers at the grass root level for imparting training on GAP.
4. Mandatory closure of all the factories in early December every year also helps in arresting infusion of sub-standard teas into the system

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Regulatory compliance for tea exports strengthened through mandatory testing, GAP/GMP enforcement, and grower training to secure quality. The Tea Board enforces the Plant Protection Code for Good Agricultural Practices and a Factory Safety Management System for Good Manufacturing Practices, mandates biannual testing of sampled teas against food-safety parameters, requires seasonal factory closures to prevent substandard product, and conducts awareness camps and workshops for small growers to impart GAP training as continuous measures to support export quality and regulatory compliance.