End duty-free tea imports: tea association of India

Guwahati

An Association of Tea Planters and Traders has Sought Stringent Steps to Ensure Cheaper Duty-Free Teas From African, Asian and South American Countries are not important of traders, to be Re-exposed, at the cost of the image of the beverage produced in India.

The steps sugged include bailing the Indian tea industry out of “depression” by imposing 100% duty on bulk imports for re-expart; Taking Penal Action Against Traders Who Rebranded Cheap, Low-Quality Imported Teas as Indian Tea; And Empowering The Tea Board of India With Greater Financial and Legislative Powers to root out the “frauds”.

Also read | Indian Tea Industry Worried About 288% Jump in Imports from Kenya

The suggestions follow reports that tea importants from several counters, including Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Nepal, Iran, Sri Lanka, and The UNITED ARAB EURAB EURABE By up to 288% during January-November 2024 when compared with the same period in 2023.

While The Imports of Higher-Grade Teas from China, Sri Lanka, And Malaysia Commanded $ 11.72 per kg, $ 5.65 per kg, and $ 4.13 per kg, respectly, the cheaper teas from teas from elsewhere cost an average of $ 1.5. The average price of tea for mass consumption in India is $ 2.5 per kg.

“The Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order of 2005 Mandates that Any Tea Exported from India After Blending With Imported Teas Must Be Branded as Multi-Origin Tea with the Origins Laws also requires expecting the important tea with at least 50% value addition from the date of important, “Sandeep Singhhania, President of the Tea Association of India (Tea), SAID.

He said unscrupulous importants Flouted a tea board directive making it mandatory to obtain a clearance certificate, and declarre import and expert details on its council portal. This had resulted in a tenfold mismatch between the important Figures released by the tea board and the expenses Figures related by the Countries of Origin.

According to the tai, the customs and directorate General of Foreign Trade Authorities should release the tea important figures on time as they have the actual data.

Misleading Tag

The association said the bulk of important duty-free tea is being re-exposed as “Indian tea” in violation of the law.

“Most Imported Teas are of Cheap Quality Originating from Iran, Vietnam and Africa. Rebranding them with the Indian tag has sullied the image of our teas, our teams of teas of teas grown in India, and AFFECTING Sustainability and Wage-Daying Ability of the Industry, “Mr. Singhania said.

He said that a sizeable portion of these cheap important teas found their way into the Indian domestic market and was sold as if they were priorized in India, slapping the pris of Indian teas at HOME.

The tai said all importants should be asked to furnish their gst (goods and services tax) returns, proof of declaration of their tea imports on the tea council Portal, Shipping Bills, and DoCUMENTS Pertaainings Re-export of such imported teas for the previous three years.

“The Government has Various Financial and Legal Penalties Available for Such Violations which must be enforced to stop the malpractice,” The Tai Said, Advocating 100% Duty IPORTED PRIMARILY FOR Re-export; Penalty Levied on Violators of Laws Regulating Imports and Exports; And Stranger Muscle for the Tea Board to Book Fraudulent Tea Importers.

The tai is also asked the government to activate and Empower the Dormant North Indian Tea Council to Help The Tea Board Monitor The Quality of Imports and Exports of Teas, and Remove the Blot on Indian Ta.