No herbal infusion can be called tea, clarifies FSSAI

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a warning to food business operators (FBOs) against using the word ‘tea’ for herbal infusions and plant-based blends not derived from Camellia sinensis.

• According to FSSAI regulations, the term ‘tea’ can only be used on packaging and labelling if the beverage is derived from Camellia sinensis.

• This includes variants such as Kangra tea, green tea and instant tea.

• The FSSAI clarified that any other plant-based or herbal infusions or blends do not qualify to be named as tea.

• The violation amounts to misleading and misbranding under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

• The regulator has directed all FBOs, including those engaged in e-commerce, manufacturing, packing, marketing, import or sale of such products, to comply with food safety regulations.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various Acts and orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various ministries and departments. 

• The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• FSSAI was created for laying down scientific standards for food articles and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

The main functions of FSSAI include:

i) Setting globally benchmarked regulations, standards and guidelines.

ii) Facilitating compliance through licensing, registration, inspection and improved laboratory network.

iii) Building capacity of regulatory staff as well as food business operators.

iv) Driving public health initiatives in the true spirit of convergence.

v) Leveraging IEC (Information, Education & Communication) and BCC (behaviour change communication) techniques to build a food safety culture.

vi) Embracing technology to streamline processes. 

vii) Forging strategic partnerships to generate and exchange knowledge and best practices.

Major tea producers and exporters in the world

• Major tea producing and exporting countries are China, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.

• In 2024, India achieved a significant milestone in the global tea industry, surpassing Sri Lanka to become the world’s second-largest exporter of tea. 

• India exports tea to several countries, with the UAE, Iraq, USA, Russia and Iran emerging as top destinations.

Tea producing states in India

• In India, tea is cultivated in 15 states of which Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the major tea growing states. 

• They account for 98 per cent of the total production in the country. 

• Other traditional states where tea is grown are Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Karnataka. 

• The non-traditional states that have entered the tea map of India include Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim.

• World’s finest teas like Darjeeling, Assam, Sikkim, Nilgiris and Kangra which are famous for their delicate flavour are produced in India. 

What is the role of Tea Board India?

• Tea Board India was established on April 1, 1954 as per the provisions of Section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953. 

• The Board is assigned with the overall development of the tea industry in India and functioning under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce.

• The Board is constituted of 31 members (including chairman) drawn from Members of Parliament, tea producers, tea traders, tea brokers, consumers, and representatives of governments from the principal tea producing states, and trade unions. The Board is reconstituted every three years.

• The Head Office of the Board is located in Kolkata, West Bengal. 

• Tea Board has two zonal offices at Guwahati (Assam) and Coonoor (Tamil Nadu), 15 Regional Offices and one overseas office at Moscow, which is being managed by embassy officials.

• The Board functions as an apex body concerned with overall development of the tea industry in India.

Its functions include:

i) Increasing production and productivity of tea plantations.

ii) Improving the quality of tea.

iii) Promoting co-operative efforts among small tea growers.

iv) Supporting tea research and development.

v) Undertaking promotional campaigns for increasing exports and domestic consumption.

vi) Regulatory functions — Registration of tea gardens, factories, primary buyers and issue of licenses for tea brokers, auction organisers, exporters and tea waste dealers.

vii) Welfare measures for plantation workers/their wards in the area of health, hygiene, training and education.

viii) Collection and dissemination of tea statistics.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)