Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Tata and HUL tighten tea sourcing norms
Tata Consumer Products and Hindustan Unilever, two big tea companies in India, have decided to only buy tea that meets food safety rules.
They will test the tea in special labs to make sure it's safe.
The Tea Board, which looks after tea quality, supports this because it wants Indians to have good quality tea.
Some tea farmers, especially small ones, might find it hard to follow these rules because they don't have the right tools.
But the Tea Board says they want to help farmers meet these safety guidelines.
Tata Consumer Products and Hindustan Unilever will only source teas that comply with food safety standards.
The new procurement policy is effective immediately, with non-compliant teas liable to be rejected.
The companies will conduct tests through NABL-accredited labs.
The Tea Board supports the move, aiming to improve tea quality standards in India.
Non-compliance with food safety standards is pervasive among both large estates and small tea growers.
- Who
- Tata Consumer Products, Hindustan Unilever, Tea Board, Tea Producers
- What
- Tightening of tea sourcing norms to comply with food safety standards
- When
- Immediately
- Where
- India
- Why
- To ensure food safety and quality amid heightened scrutiny
Tea Board and Producers
Tea Companies
Compliance with Food Safety Standards
Tea Board and Producers
The Tea Board emphasizes that India can produce compliant teas and that the mandate is to help farmers meet FSSAI guidelines.
Tea Companies
Tata Consumer Products and Hindustan Unilever are tightening procurement policies to ensure only compliant teas are sourced, rejecting non-compliant ones.
- Companies Involved
- Tata Consumer Products, Hindustan Unilever
- Market Share
- 40% of packet teas sold in India
- Effective Date
- Immediately
- Testing Method
- NABL-accredited labs
- Tea Board Mandate
- Maintain tea quality standards
- Non-Compliance Issue
- Pervasive among large estates and small growers
- BLF Compliance
- Bought leaf factories ask for compliance certificates from green leaf sellers