Kolkata, April 25 (PTI): The Tea Board will reactivate the advisory body -- Tea Council of India -- to ensure strict enforcement of quality in accordance with FSSAI standards, Chairman Arun Ray said on Thursday.
The council would be asked to undertake random sampling of tea produced by companies, which would entail an investment of Rs 50 lakh, Ray told reporters on the sidelines of the 'Tea Entrepreneurs Meet' here.
He said if the samples failed to meet the FSSAI standards, the board would take penal action against the company concerned.
"We have to ensure that the quality of tea supplied in the market conforms to FSSAI standards," the Tea Board official said.
Ray said the board had appointed two consultants, one for computerisation of processes, and the other for identifying the processes that were not required.
He laid stress on promotion of Indian tea abroad, for which the board will ask companies to send separate samples to foreign missions.
Ray also urged the tea-producing companies to increase output.
Regarding the auction system under revamp, he said a team from IIM-Bangalore was developing a new model.
Ray added that a new auction centre would come up at Jorhat in Assam.
