The Centre has modified an earlier decision that prohibited the practise for any mix and will now permit the blending of imported tea with Indian kinds that are geographically indicated (GI)-tagged. As long as the final product does not make the claim that it is an exclusive item covered by the GI mark, dealers may blend Darjeeling tea with any other varietals, particularly Nepal tea, in their bags.
The restriction, which was put into effect by an order on November 11, 2021, had an adverse effect on the lowest-quality segments of the Darjeeling tea business. The gardens were reliant on domestic consumers like Tata Consumers Products Ltd., who would purchase tea that could not otherwise be exported, such as well-known first and second flushes. Due to TCPL's complete absence of purchases of Darjeeling tea this season as a result of previous year's order, auction prices decreased. The problem prompted numerous representations from the producers to the Union Ministry of Commerce and the Tea Board, as well as from customers like TCPL. "Without weakening the original intent of the regulation, we have removed the barrier to domestic Darjeeling tea procurement. If any merchant is discovered to be blending imported tea while claiming it to be GI tea, the Tea Board will take severe measures”, a source in the Tea Board stated.
Nepal teas, which have attributes comparable to Darjeeling due to similar geography, have been steadily gaining ground because they are less expensive than Darjeeling. Previous requests to the Tea Board to stop the widespread blending of Nepalese tea, which local producers assert frequently fails to meet Indian food and safety standards, have been heard.
The board had issued a number of notifications in 2021 to safeguard the interests of the Darjeeling tea industry and other Indian origin teas that are covered by GI, including one on November 11, 2021 that stated: "...in exercise of the power under paragraph 13(3) of the Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003, it is hereby directed that going forward no registered buyers of teas shall blend any imported tea with teas of Darjeeling, Kangra, Assam , and Nilgiri. Any appropriate action will be taken if this directive is not followed.
The order turned out to be counterproductive because the Tatas generally skipped auctions when they needed to buy Darjeeling tea to blend their well-known Tata Gold pack. According to an estimate, the Tatas purchase roughly 1 million kg annually, or about 15% of Darjeeling's output.
The Tea Board order from Tuesday replaced the prior one and stated that "...any end product not claiming to be GI teas, i.e. Darjeeling, Kangra, Assam (orthodox), and Nilgiri (orthodox) will not fall under the purview of this notification."
Darjeeling tea is frequently blended with teas from different origins when sold abroad, according to a Tea Board source, as long as it is not marketed as Darjeeling tea. In India, there is also no justification for ending the practise.
