Tea exports to India to ease as it softens quality inspection rules
Summary
India has eased quality inspection rules for Nepali tea exports, adopting a risk-based testing regime that will reduce delays and costs for exporters while allowing faster customs clearance for most consignments.
Key Points
- India's Food Safety and Standards Authority has shifted to risk-based quality testing for Nepali tea, inspecting only 20% of consignments randomly.
- The new regime, effective immediately, replaces the earlier rule of mandatory testing for every tea consignment from Nepal.
- This change is expected to ease export delays and reduce costs for Nepali tea producers, many of whom had ceased or reduced production due to the previous restrictions.
- Some Nepali exporters remain uncertain about the long-term stability of this relaxation and urge continued diplomatic engagement to maintain smooth cross-border trade.
