BTB asks customs not to allow any tea import consignment

The Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) has requested the customs authorities not to allow any tea import consignments without prior approval from the regulator, sources said

The move comes amid growing concerns over the influx of foreign tea brands into local super shops despite having no official permission for such imports in recent years, they said.

The BTB in a letter recently urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to take necessary steps to this effect.

A large quantity of unauthorised foreign brands of tea has entered into the market through the country's ports, posing a direct and significant threat to the domestic tea industry, according to an industry insider.

Under the section 22 of the Tea Act, 2016, obtaining a license from the BTB is mandatory for shipping any tea consignments.

Following the violations of such provision in recent times, the Board has requested all customs houses across the country to strictly enforce the regulations and refrain from releasing any imported tea without proper approval.

A senior BTB official claimed that the import is particularly damning as it reveals a longstanding regulatory lapse. The BTB has not authorised the import of packaged tea (pre-packaged) for many years.

The fact remains that such foreign brands of tea, many of which are pre-packaged, are easily available in the market, the source said, mentioning it was happening due to lack of coordination between the BTB and port customs authorities.

According to the BTB letter, local traders have reported that foreign tea brands such as Dilmah, Twinings, and PG Tips have increasingly been displayed on the shelves of major retail chains.

According to the letter, the BTB has not granted any import licenses for such products in past years.

It also noted that bringing foreign tea into the country without having prior authorisation is illegal and detrimental to the domestic industry.

According to the BTB, Bangladesh's commercial tea industry, established in 1854, now spans 171 tea gardens and supports the livelihoods of approximately 0.15 million tea workers and 05 million dependents.

Additionally, around 8,000 small-scale tea farmers and 25,000 workers, involved in the industry-related activities across five northern districts, heavily rely on the sector.

Tea production in Bangladesh has seen a significant growth over the past decade, which rose to over 90 million kgs annually from around 65 million kgs.

In 2023, the country's tea production hit a record high of around 102.92 million kgs. After meeting the domestic consumption, the country exports only 1.0 to 2.0 per cent of its total output.

Keeping this in view, the BTB has emphasised that Bangladesh needs not to import tea for the sake of helping save the country foreign currencies.

A senior official of the commerce ministry, however, believes that strict compliance of the existing provision would help safeguard the country's tea sector, protect local producers, and maintain the stability in the domestic market.

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