Shaping the Future of Tea: ISO Convenes a Key Meeting in Sri Lanka

Officials from 10 National Standards Bodies (NSBs) representing ten member countries convened in Colombo today for the 30th plenary meeting of the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) Technical Committee on Tea (ISO TC 34/ SC 8). 

Hosted by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) with support from the European Union-funded BESPA-FOOD project and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this event marks the first in-person meeting for the ISO TC 34/ SC 8 since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The ISO/TC 34/ SC 8 provides member countries around the world the opportunity to discuss new standards related to the tea industry and to improve on existing ones in keeping with the advancements in Research & Development and to understand and cater to the market trends.

"Sri Lanka is honoured to host this important meeting”, Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of SLSI Dr. Siddhika G Senaratne said, “The Tea manufacturing industry in Sri Lanka is fully aligned with ISO standards and as a country, we play a pivotal role in ensuring consistent quality and safety across tea-producing nations.”

The ISO meeting focused on crucial discussions and evaluations of various international market parameters for tea production worldwide. Topics discussed ranged from standardization in the field of tea (Camellia sinensis) covering the fields of compositional standards for different types of tea, testing methods for quality (including sensory and composition), good manufacturing practice (including transportation), facilitating clarity in quality of tea for international trade, and to meet consumer expectation of the quality of tea. 

Some of the specific topics discussed at the annual ISO/TC 34/SC 8 on tea included introducing a method for classifying tea by chemical analysis, exploring the possibility of standardizing white tea, introducing a vocabulary for green tea, defining the characteristics of masala chai powder, and introducing terminology for black tea. Revisions to existing standards for instant tea in solid form were also addressed.

Commenting on the event, UNIDO Senior International Technical Specialist Dr Jairo Villamil Diaz said, “One of the key pillars of the EU-funded BESPA-FOOD Project in Sri Lanka is to support the development and adoption of international standards for the agri-food sector, enabling the local agri-food value chain to gain access to lucrative markets here and abroad.” 

The 30th ISO/TC 34 /SC 8 on Tea coincides with the Colombo International Tea Convention 2024, bringing together the industry’s leading worldwide stakeholders.