GI for Ceylon Tea nearing completion
The Morning: The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) has announced that the process of obtaining Geographical Indication (GI) certification for Ceylon Tea is nearing completion.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLTB Chairman Rajpal Obeyesekere stated that the application submitted to secure GI status in the European Union (EU) had made substantial progress. However, the process has experienced slight delays due to the need to address clarifications requested by the relevant authorities.
“So far, the process is still ongoing. The approval hasn’t come yet. It was supposed to come in a month or two, but it is getting delayed,” he stated.
He further revealed that the European Commission had sought some further clarifications regarding the flavours of Ceylon Tea and that the SLTB had answered these queries.
Obeyesekere added that Sri Lanka had completed all its documents and that all that was remaining was to receive the decision of the European Commission.
He further revealed that the three-month objection period was expected to commence shortly.
If no objections are raised during that time, Sri Lanka will receive GI approval for Ceylon Tea shortly thereafter. However, if objections are submitted, Sri Lanka will be required to engage with the relevant parties and resolve any outstanding issues before approval can be granted.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business last year, Obeyesekere revealed that the SLTB had on or around September 2024, submitted its application to obtain GI certification for Ceylon Tea with the assistance of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).
The initiative by the SLTB to obtain GI certification for Ceylon Tea commenced with the tripartite agreement the board entered into with the French Development Agency (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 is focused on further strengthening and expanding the country’s export industry with special attention on several key export commodities like tea and tea-based products. Given the fast-evolving requirements of the global consumer, Sri Lanka while producing export commodities of high quality and standards is also ensuring that they meet new global standards that include GI certifications. The GI certification would help further boost Sri Lanka’s tea exports to the global market, especially in the European sector. Sri Lankan authorities, while providing incentives to businesses in the tea industry, are also encouraging exporters to focus on adding more value and diversifying their export product portfolios to meet the growing needs of the foreign markets. Also, Sri Lanka’s work in expanding trade ties to include more foreign countries has furth expanded opportunities in the country’s tea industry. Given all these factors, it is evident that there’s a growing business potential in Sri Lanka’s tea industry as well as related sectors that are open for foreign businesses/investors on the lookout for lucrative ventures.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/202603011/Z_1 |