Syllabus: GS-III & V: Agriculture 

Why in the news?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has clarified that the term “tea” can be used only for products derived from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis.

• Herbal and plant-based infusions can no longer be labelled or marketed as tea, ending long-standing confusion in the beverage market.
  

What the clarification says

• As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, tea (including green tea, instant tea and Kangra tea) must come exclusively from Camellia sinensis.
• The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 require that:
  • The true nature of the food must be clearly mentioned on the package.
• Using the word “tea” for non-tea infusions amounts to misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• The directive applies to all food business operators, including e-commerce platforms.

Why this matters for Assam

• Assam produces some of the world’s finest tea and supports lakhs of livelihoods.
• The Assam tea industry, which has long faced competition from mislabelled wellness beverages.
• The rapid rise of herbal drinks marketed as “tea”: Diverted consumers from traditional tea, hurt the market value of Assam tea
• Clear labelling protects genuine tea growers and restores fair competition.

Key Regulatory Frameworks

The framework is based on existing but now strictly enforced laws:

• FSSAI Regulations, 2011: Defines tea as being exclusively from the leaves, buds, and tender stems of Camellia sinensis.
• Labelling & Display Regulations, 2020: Mandates that every package must carry the “true nature” of the food on the front of the pack. 
  • Using “Tea” for non-tea plants is now classified as Misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Tea Board Circular (2022): Limits the addition of flavors in “Flavoured Tea” to a maximum of 5%, ensuring that the beverage remains primarily tea rather than a mix of additives.

Consumers also gain

• Earlier, aggressive marketing blurred the line between: Tea (from Camellia sinensis) and Tisanes or herbal infusions (from flowers, roots or leaves)
• The clarification enables consumers to:
  • Make informed health choices
  • Know exactly what they are drinking
• This aligns with global trends, including recognition of tea as a healthy beverage by international regulators.

Pesticide & Safety Challenge

While the labelling ban helps the market, the tea industry must also win back consumer trust through safety:

• Maximum Residual Limit (MRL): This is the maximum amount of pesticide residue legally allowed in food. FSSAI has set strict MRLs for various chemicals used in tea gardens.
• Plant Protection Code (PPC) 2025: The Tea Board of India issued an updated PPC in 2025, making it mandatory for all manufacturers to test products at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and upload reports to the FSSAI portal.

Conclusion

The FSSAI move restores clarity, trust and fairness. The tea industry at the same time must: Strengthen quality control, promote tea’s health benefits, ensure compliance with safety norms. Only then can traditional tea compete confidently with wellness beverages.

Exam Hook

Key takeaways

• Tea can legally come only from Camellia sinensis.
  
• Herbal drinks cannot be labelled as tea.
  
• Regulation protects both consumers and traditional producers.
  

Mains Question

How does food labelling regulation help protect farmers and consumers? Illustrate with the recent FSSAI clarification on tea.

One-line wrap:
Clear labels do not just name a drink—they protect livelihoods, health, and trust.

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