(a) whether the Consumer Grievance Committee of India has found that loose tea sold is grossly adulterated in many cases;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of such cases noticed during the last three years; and
(c) the steps taken to ensure that consumers get good quality of loose tea?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD)
(a) & (b): The Consumer Guidance Society of India, Mumbai conducted a small survey on loose tea being sold in the market. According to them out of 25 samples of loose tea tested, 17 samples were found not to be conforming to the standards laid down under Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955.
(c): The States/UT Governments have been requested to keep a vigil on the quality of tea sold in the market in their State. Various steps taken by Government/Tea Board to ensure quality of tea are stated below:
(i) Under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, Directorate of Health Services of the State Governments have been empowered to detect the activities of adulteration of Food including tea and to take actions which are necessary for prevention of such adulteration.
(ii) The Tea Board from time to time requests the producers` associations to advise their member gardens to ensure that their product is in total conformity with the specifications laid down for tea in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and the Rules.
(iii) The Tea Board has also issued instructions to the Tea Brokers attached to various auction centers in India to ensure that the tea sold in auction is in total conformity with the specifications laid down for tea in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and Rules.
(iv) The Tea Board is effectively monitoring the different provisions of the Tea Waste (Control) Order, 1959 to prevent sale of tea waste as tea.