SL- Japan negotiations on Ceylon Tea

Sri Lankan authorities are negotiating with the Japanese authorities to resolve concerns regarding the residue levels of pesticide found in Ceylon Tea.

Japan has introduced a set of revised regulations impacting on Ceylon Tea as well since the authorities have requested that residue levels of certain types of weedicides need to be at very low levels, industry sources said.

During the recent visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono to the country, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake had requested more time be granted to enable tea growers to adjust to the revised regulations introduced by Japanese authorities on very low residue levels in tea which were enforced last October.

The visiting minister had stated that he would consult the relevant authorities in this regard.

Japan is one of the strongest buyers of Dimbula teas in the western high growns and Uva and Udapussellawa regions. Sri Lankan tea growers have been using a number of weedicides since the ban on glyphosate was enforced by the government last year.

As a result of this now the plantations need to conform to the revised regulations introduced by Japan for which they would require a period of at least six months to one year, sources said.

The impact on the plantations would be a short term problem as they would have to now change their agricultural practices.

Due to revised regulations Japanese authorities have indicated that they would start testing Ceylon Tea imports pertaining to the residue levels. Such testing was not carried out in the past as the teas were in conformity under the previous regulations.

The tea industry faced a number of setbacks in December due to the Russian authorities imposing a ban on agricultural imports from Sri Lanka after they found a beetle in the Ceylon Tea packaging. However, following a series of negotiations between the two nations matters were resolved and Colombo continues to sell Ceylon Tea to Russia now without hindrance.

But it is learnt, that unlike their Russian counterparts who could be stern in taking action against Sri Lankan imports if necessary, the Japanese were found to be cautious in their approach in resolving the matter due to their close ties with the island nation.