Producing nations address tea safety and awareness issues
Ministers from top tea producing nations are set to meet next week in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to discuss setting up an industry body to deal with the concerns of tea producing and consuming countries. Representatives from China, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and other countries seek to set up the International Tea Producers Forum to harmonize norms for maximum permissible levels of pesticides, which currently differ from one country to another. The new organization also aims to position tea as a natural beverage and raise awareness about its health benefits on a global scale. Finally, the industry body is expected to undertake joint market studies, surveys and research projects.