In Vietnam, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province has recently issued a warning for production facilities and businesses to refrain from using chemicals to color tea leaves.
The request was issued to tea production enterprises that export their products to Pakistan and Afghanistan specifically. Recently, importers of tea from Pakistan have also issued a cautionary notice to the Pakistan Tea Association and Pakistan Customs regarding the use of coloring agents in tea. At present, the relevant authorities in Pakistan are examining measures to enhance the examination protocols for assessing the quality of tea imports originating from Vietnam.
The warning issued by the Department of Agriculture seeks to safeguard the reputation of Lam Dong and Vietnamese tea brands, as well as preserving the market access into Pakistan and Afghanistan. In addition, this approach is intended to ensure food safety and prevent commercial fraud, which could tarnish the reputation of Vietnamese tea products.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also recommended that enterprises enhance their quality management practices and collaborate to protect the tea brand of Vietnam. They are also advised to notify the relevant authorities upon detecting cases of individuals or organizations applying chemical agents for the purpose of tea coloring.
