Sri Lanka mulling import liberalization to boost blending
Sri Lanka's government is considering the possibility to allow tea imports into the island country in a bid to boost exports and value creation for exporters. Importing tea into Sri Lanka has been prohibited to discourage lower quality teas to be blended with Ceylon tea and then mis-sold as pure Ceylon on the international markets. At the request of exporters, the government is now taking a fresh look at the issue in a bid to boost the countrys exports and encourage the creation of added value. This is despite opposition from growers, who fear a dilution of the Ceylon tea brand.