To overhaul the Tea Board of India amid falling tea exports worsened by the Ukraine crisis, the Government of India has proposed to amend the 70-year-old Tea Act.
- The commerce ministry has proposed to repeal the Tea Act, 1953 and introduce a new legislation Tea (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022.
- The draft amendment bill proposes to bring changes to the functioning of the tea board, so that it can act more as a facilitator than regulator.
- Several obsolete provisions will also be removed from the Tea Act 1953.
- The proposed bills will promote ease of doing business and increase India’s footprint in the world market.
About Tea production and exports
- The value of tea exports has slipped from $828 million in 2012-13 to $785 million in 2017-18 to $700 million in 2020-21.
- India stands fourth in terms of tea export after Kenya (including neighbouring African countries), China and Sri Lanka.
- As of 2019, India was the second largest tea producer in the world with production of 1,339.70 million kgs.
- India offers high-quality specialty teas, such as Darjeeling, Assam Orthodox and the high-range Nilgiris, which have a distinctive aroma, strength, colour and flavour.
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