Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Tea nears EU GI registration
The Morning: The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) is optimistic that it will be able to obtain Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Ceylon Tea within one month’s time, provided no objections are issued once published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLTB Chairman Rajpal Obeyesekere revealed that they had successfully faced the first review under the GI registration process in April and they were presently in the midst of facing the second review.
He further stated: “According to our estimates, it will go for publication within the next month or so for objections. If there are no objections, registration will be granted. If there are objections, we will have to face that process.”
He added that he was optimistic about obtaining the registration in about a month’s time, should there be no objections to the granting of the GI registration to Sri Lanka.
Obeyesekere stated that while it was likely that objections would be raised against the granting of GI registration to Ceylon Tea, he was confident that the authority would ultimately decide in favour of Sri Lanka.
“When your product has the GI logo in a particular destination, the connoisseur who recognises quality is assured of that,” he stated.
This initiative taken 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 the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) for the development of a GI.
This 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.
Geographical Indication 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, which is a key export commodity of the country generating a considerable amount of revenue, is working towards regaining the top slot enjoyed by Ceylon Tea in the international market in the past. The increase in Sri Lanka’s tea production, working to obtain GI certification to further strengthen access to the EU markets, the increase in value-additions to tea exports and the diversification of the country’s existing tea and tea-based export product portfolio, all indicate a steady growth in Sri Lanka’s tea industry as well as sectors related to it. All these are indicative of the expansion of business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Given the expanding tea industry in the country, the boost received by the strong trade ties enjoyed by Sri Lanka with many countries as well as the growth, profits and expansion of local business already engaged in the industry, are all indicative of the expanding business potential in Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore the expanding business/investment opportunities that cover many areas in Sri Lanka’s tea industry and related sectors. The expanding local businesses in Sri Lanka’s tea industry also presents opportunities for foreign businesses/investors to expand operations through partnerships or joint ventures.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250813Z_3 |