Tea Board Vice Chairman C Murugan
Tea Board Vice Chairman C Murugan on Saturday assured that 100% quality check of imports would be carried out to prevent inflows of the cheap variety into the country.
The industry had complained that cheap, poor quality imports were entering the country, which was destroying the industry.
Addressing the biennial general meeting of the Tea Association of India (TAI) here, Murugan said the board is formalizing the process for 100% quality control of imports of the drink.
“We are creating the infrastructure for it. It will take 15 to 20 days. After that, a legal opinion would be sought, followed by approval from the ministry (commerce),” he said.
He said cheap, poor quality tea was being imported from countries like Nepal and Vietnam.
Murugan also said that the board will act as a facilitator and liberalize control of the industry. He said the Tea Board would also not interfere in the auction system but would facilitate the process.
The board will make efforts to promote Indian tea widely in other countries, he said.
Murugan said under the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme, 2026, an expenditure of ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked for the next five years, the benefits of which will also be extended to small tea farmers.
West Bengal Labor Minister Avanindra Singh said the tea industry is going through a difficult phase. “Cheap, low-quality imports from Nepal are entering the country and destroying the Darjeeling tea industry.”
He said that in West Bengal, people with no experience in the tea industry are purchasing huge tracts of land with diseased and closed gardens at dirt cheap prices.
“I request the industry to come forward and acquire the closed tea gardens in West Bengal. The best way for the survival of the industry is to involve tea workers in the management of the gardens by providing equity capital,” he said.
This will create a sense of ownership among workers, he said.
Singh said wages and statutory dues had still not been paid to the tea workers and asked the garden management to pay them as soon as possible.
Sandeep Singhania, president of TAI, said duty-free imports of cheap quality teas have increased significantly. “Restricting these imports is critical to the survival of the Darjeeling tea industry.”
Published on January 3, 2026