Tea packers must register - Tea Board

Persons engaged in the packaging of tea based products for local sale or export are required to register themselves with the Sri Lanka Tea Board on or before December 31, Tea Board Director General H. D. Hemaratne said.

He said, according to the 1986 Sri Lanka Tea Board (registration of persons engaged in packaging) regulations it is mandatory for persons engaged in the packaging of tea based products to register themselves with the Tea Board annually.

This regulation is aimed to ensure the quality of tea and tea based products sold here and abroad.

It is applicable to all those making packets weighing 5 kg and less in polythene or paper bags, metal containers, wooden boxes, tins, ceramic or clay pots or reed baskets or another containers.

Those contravening this regulation can be arranged before a Magistrate's Court for legal action.

Hemaratne said those who have registered for this year should also renew their licences for next year before the given date (December 31).

All storerooms used by tea brokers, producers, processors, transporters, blenders, sellers and buyers too have to be registered with the Sri Lanka Tea Board on or before December 31, said Director General H. D. Hemaratne. This is a major requirement in terms of the Tea Control Act No. 51 of 1957. This does not apply to tea factory owners. Owners who have registered the storerooms for this year should also renew their licences for next year before this date.

Registration forms could be obtained from the Deputy Tea Commissioner (Exports), Sri Lanka Tea Board, Export Division, 572, Galle Road, Colombo 3.