Sri Lanka Tea Board set to secure GI certification for Ceylon Tea 

Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman 

Niraj de Mel

Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Niraj de Mel confirmed this week that the required documentation to bear the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) certification for Ceylon Tea will be submitted by the end of this month. 

“After years of preparation, we are set to submit all the necessary documents to obtain the GI certification for Ceylon Tea before the end of this month,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that the entire process to receive the certification after rigorous procedures would take at least another one and half years. 

Blinking Ceylon Tea to its geographical origin and unique production methods, the GI certification will offer consumers assurance of authenticity and quality, while also safeguarding against counterfeit products.

The initiative stems from a tripartite agreement signed in December 2021, aimed at facilitating the registration process for the GI designation.

Collaborating closely with the French Government, authorities have been diligently working towards securing GI certification for Ceylon Tea, following in the footsteps of Ceylon Cinnamon, which has already obtained such recognition. As part of this endeavour, the French Development Agency (AFD) pledged a € 1 million grant to provide technical assistance to the Sri Lanka Tea Board through the Centre de Coopération International en Recherche Agronomiquepour le Développement (CIRAD). The support assisted in the development of GI standards and protocols specific to Ceylon Tea, ensuring its authenticity and promoting its unique characteristics on the global stage.

The creation of a GI for Ceylon Tea holds multifaceted benefits, including the promotion of quality products, protection of traditional know-how and enhancement of commercial value and recognition in international markets. 

The geographical diversity of Sri Lanka’s seven tea-producing regions contributes to the distinctive characteristics of Ceylon Tea. Despite its uniqueness, the absence of formal protection mechanisms has led to challenges such as counterfeit products infiltrating global markets. The GI certification therefore will address these issues by providing intellectual property protection and adding value to Ceylon Tea in both domestic and international markets.

With enhanced intellectual property protections and certifications, the Ceylon Tea value chain is poised to become more productive, inclusive, and sustainable. Producers will benefit from the authenticity conferred by the GI certification, while consumers can enjoy the assurance of purchasing a genuine and high-quality product.