Guwahati, Aug 22: In response to recent statements made by the Federation of All India Tea Traders’ Associations (FAITTA) regarding inclusion of artificial colours in packaged tea products, the Tea Association of India (TAI) has clarified that the tea producers associated with TAI uphold the highest standards of authenticity, quality and ethical practices.
“Tea Association of India (TAI) would like to clarify that the tea producers associated with TAI uphold the highest standards of authenticity, quality and ethical practices. Our members are committed to producing tea adhering to all regulatory requirements and industry norms,” Ajay Jalan, TAI president said.
“As part of the stringent evaluation process, tea samples from producers are thoroughly assessed by buyers before any purchasing decisions are made. Therefore, if any producers were engaged in the practice of mixing artificial colours, it would be promptly recognised during the evaluation process, and appropriate measures would be taken by the buyers,” Jalan said.
“We believe that FAITTA’s statement may have been misconstrued. They were possibly suggesting that there are unscrupulous traders or retail sellers who might resort to such practices. They were possibly not suggesting that these unethical practices represent the broader tea-producing community,” he said.
“We firmly believe that this issue, while important, should not overshadow the tireless efforts of ethical producers who are committed to delivering high-quality and authentic tea products,” the TAI president said.
Meanwhile, the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association has expressed concern over reports of colouring of teas, stating that the issue was perhaps not presented truthfully in the media.
“The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre has not received any complaint in the last 50 years on colouring of the teas. Some manufacturers might be carrying out such practices, but for this the entire tea industry should not be blamed,” Dinesh Bihani, the secretary of the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association, said.
“In fact, the GTAC has recently collaborated with the Tea Research Association (TRA), Tocklai for sample analysis with discounted rates so that anyone can send their samples to GTAC and get analysis reports in a shorter time. We feel that Assam tea is one of the best teas in the world and teas sold through the auction system are always guaranteed as per FSSAI rules,” Bihani said.