International Day of Tea
Tea association complains about strict EU requirements
The EU plays a small role for tea producers as an export space. If the EU then increases the rules, it is counterproductive, says the German Tea Association.
With its restrictions on the use of plant protection products in tea cultivation, the European Union has spanned the sheet and herbal tea association. “We are calling for a realistic distinction between the necessary consumer protection and a practical residue -free pesticide of plant protection products in our raw goods,” said association chief Frank Schübel on the occasion of the international day of tea this Wednesday. As a business location, the EU is currently losing attractiveness as a trading partner for the producer countries, especially in Asia and Africa.
Schübel: Brussels often does not allow dialogue
According to the association, the EU limit values for pesticides are in the micro or nanogram range. The German tea companies invested a double -digit million amount annually for the analysis. Both the controls caused by the companies and tests from consumer protection organization showed that the legal requirements were highly met. “It is important to us to be on dialogue with the authorities on this question,” said Schübel. At the same time, however, he complained: “However, this is often no longer allowed on the part of Brussels.”
The criticism that hunger wages are often paid for on tea plantations did not show Schübel. However, he said: “Unfortunately, our impact options are limited here, because one should not underestimate that many wages in cultivation countries are regulated by the state or union.” According to the association, German tea companies therefore try to improve living conditions in the plantations in other ways. For example, a company in Rwanda donated cows and enabled the cultivation of lemongrass along the drainage ditches of the tea plantation in order to create further income opportunities in this way.
Even three percent of tea exports go to the EU
In general, the German tea companies are dependent on the good will of the producers, said Schübel. “With a purchasing volume of less than one percent, for example for tea from India, we do not have the option of demanding the adjustment of their production conditions from our suppliers.” According to the recent information from 2022, almost 6.5 million tons remained in the producer countries of the latest information from the latest information from 2022. Almost 172,000 tons or 2.65 percent went to the EU and around 51,000 tons to Germany.
dpa
Source: Stern
