Tea Industry Urges Tighter Import Controls to Protect Indian Market

Industry bodies, including the Tea Association of India (TAI), urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce to regulate rising imports of low-quality tea. During a meeting in Guwahati, TAI flagged discrepancies in official import data and claimed that cheap teas, mainly from Vietnam, Iran, and Africa, are being re-exported falsely as “Indian Tea.” This practice harms Indian tea’s global image and suppresses domestic prices. The industry demanded a minimum import price, anti-dumping duties, and stricter quality checks. Concerns were also raised about ineffective pest control chemicals and inconsistent global MRL standards affecting exports.