New Delhi, Nov 27 (KNN) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed custom officials to keep an eye on the quality of teas being imported from Nepal when Darjeeling tea industry body claimed that tea imported from Nepal was not in compliance with food safety regulations.

The FSSAI has taken this decision in the wake of complaints made by Darjeeling tea planters claiming that import of cheap Nepalese tea is not in compliance with Food Safety and Standard Regulations and not suitable for domestic consumption.

FSSAI has also instructed custom authorities to monitor specified food safety norms on tea.

Darjeeling tea planters led by Sanjay Bansal, chairman, Ambootia group, raised the issue that manufactured tea being imported from Nepal was not in compliance with Food Safety and Standard Regulations and said it put the health of Indian consumers at risk. 

According to media reports, Darjeeling planters explained that Nepalese teas should adhere to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for chemicals like dicofol, ethion, fenazaquin, glyphosate and others fixed by FSSAI in tea plantations. 

As per industry estimates, 2-2.5 million kg of Nepalese teas have entered India. India has a free trade agreement with Nepal, under which Nepalese tea does not incur any import duty in India.