Ceylon Tea nears GI certification says Sri Lanka Tea Board
The Morning: Following years of deliberation, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) has submitted an application to obtain the Geographical Indication (GI) certification for Ceylon Tea.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLTB Chairman Rajpal Obeyesekere revealed that with the assistance of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the SLTB had in September submitted its application to obtain GI certification for Ceylon Tea.
He further clarified that the entire process had been funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
Obeyesekere stated: “We submitted our application for GI certification sometime around September. After sending it to many stakeholders, we have finally submitted it. It was funded by the AFD and we are awaiting final approval.”
He further stated that he was optimistic that Sri Lanka would receive a positive response with regard to its application to obtain GI certification for Ceylon Tea. However, he added that it was too early to comment on a timeline for obtaining the GI certification.
“We want to do something for Sri Lanka and to ensure the Sri Lankan tea is identified internationally with GI. Hopefully we will get approval soon,” he added.
The initiative taken by the SLTB to obtain GI certification for Ceylon Tea commenced with the tripartite agreement the board entered into with the AFD and CIRAD worth € 1 million for the development of a GI for Ceylon Tea.
The agreement, signed in December 2021, provided a € 1 million grant valid for four years and involved the provision of technical assistance from CIRAD to establish GI and the relevant certification systems for Ceylon Tea.
GI certification serves to uphold and authenticate the quality, reputation, and characteristics of a product by linking it to a specific territory through intellectual property protection, while also giving it added value in national and international markets.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tea industry is on a growth path with local industry authorities focusing on local teas regaining the top slot once enjoyed by Ceylon Tea in the international market. The increasing tea export volumes and the increase in the prices fetched by local teas in the foreign markets are all indicative of the expanding industry. This in-turn has opened up many new business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tea industry. The receipt of GI certification would give a further impetus to the local tea industry that has received much support from the many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by Sri Lanka with many foreign countries. All these and the incentives offered by the Sri Lankan government have all helped boost the local tea industry. With the increasing growth and business potential in Sri Lanka’s tea industry and the requirement to further diversify the existing tea and related export product portfolio, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the many business/investment opportunities in the industry.
Article Code : | VBS/AT/20241202/Z_2 |