Sri Lanka Tea Exports to Top $ 1.5bn. Designs Emblems for Niche Brands from Regions

08th May 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Harshini Perera

Tea export revenue is expected to reach US $ 1.5 billion as a result of the rising trend in tea prices and production.

The improving economic condition and tapping new markets have resulted in an increase of Ceylon tea exports for the first quarter of this year, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Lalith Hettiarachchi told Daily News Business.

He said Sri Lanka Tea Board has encouraged regional tea production. They expect to promote tea internationally going by the region.

“We have already designed emblems for the regions and submitted information to the National Intellectual Property office. Sri Lanka Tea Board is expecting local registration soon and it will be submitted to the World Trade Organization for international registration,” he said.

The Tea Broad Chairman said the classification of tea according to the region of its origin will attract different tastes of the people internationally. The new marketing strategy will increase tea exports further.

Among Sri Lanka’s exports, 58 percent is bulk while 42 percent is value added tea. He stressed the need to increase value added tea exports.

He said that as a means of promoting value added tea, few more incentives will be given to producers.

“There are more than 700 HACCP certificates issued for industrialists and 21 industrialists have already applied for this year. We can expect an increase in the number of industrialists who will apply for HACCP certification in the future,” he said.

He said the authorities should grant necessary funding to issue the HACCP certification for industrialists. Currently, the SWITCH ASIA project provides necessary funding providing free consultancy for industrialists.

Tea Export Targets
* US$ 1.5 billion this year
* 58 percent bulk tea exports
* 42 percent value added tea exports
* 21 new applicants for HACCP

Ceylon Tea Intellectual Property Claims under Geographical Indicators

28th December 2009, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka is readying a claim for intellectual property protection for different types of Ceylon tea under global ''Geographical Indicators' rules that would help market the product, a senior official said.

Sri Lanka Tea Board chairman Lalith Hettiarachchi said they are seeking recognition for GI indicators for seven tea growing districts in the island.

"It would be a marketing advantage for the industry," he said. "The final draft of the registration papers is now with the lawyers."

The Tea Board will then file the claim with the National Intellectual Property Office and expects local registration of the tea growing regions in the first half of 2010, Hettiarachchi said.

That is the first step in seeking GI protection under the World Trade Organisation intellectual property rights rules known as the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

International registration would take more time, Hettiarachchi said.

The industry is keen on getting the GI recognition as it could be used as a marketing tool, like French wines which were among the first products to be registered under the WTO regime.
The seven tea growing areas for which GI recognition is sought are Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Uva, Udapusellawa, Kandy, Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa, in the island's central hills and southern districts.

The rules for geographical indicators enable registration of products based on defined growing areas as well as distinct product characteristics.

The Tea Board has already registered factories in each of the seven agro-climatic regions.

The initiative was begun several years ago and the registration process has been a long-drawn out one.

The industry also expects GI recognition to reduce the scope for misuse of the 'Ceylon tea' image by blended products with only a little Ceylon tea.