cuppa cheer
The Tea Boards of India and Sri Lanka have signed the Mutual Recognition Agreement, paving the way for cooperation on tea testing facilities in both the countries.
According to the agreement, tea approved by the testing authorities in Sri Lanka will be accepted by India without further testing and vice versa.
As per the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), tea imports from Sri Lanka for domestic consumption is subject to 7.5 per cent duty up to 15 million kg.
However, no duty will be imposed if the imports are for re-exports.
Limited quantities of the commodity are imported from Sri Lanka for re-exports. The same is true about the export of Indian tea to Sri Lanka. But, Sri Lanka does not import any tea for its domestic consumption. Limited quantities of Darjeeling tea are imported by that country for re-export.