The Hindu Business Line : Tea producers agree on setting up global forum

The proposal to form the International Tea Producers Forum (ITPF) received a shot in arm when the major tea producing countries at a meeting in China recently agreed on the constitution of the forum, as drafted by the Chairman of Tea Board of Kenya.

The focus of the ITPF will be on the common issues facing these countries such as development of e-auction system for tea, generic promotion, R&D, market research, collection of data and sharing of information.

The 10 countries comprising IPTF include India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malawi, Tanzania, the Mauritius and Zimbabwe. The Chairman of Tea Board of Kenya will also be the Chairman of ITPF, it has been decided.

China stays out

China, although a major producer of tea, has preferred to remain outside the forum stating that its authorities concerned are yet to clear the proposal. However, there is a feeling that China, the only green tea producing country, may not have many things in common with other members of the group, all producing black tea.

The proposal to have the ITPF was first mooted at the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) on tea in Kenya in 2006. It was subsequently discussed at the international tea convention held in Colombo in 2007. The issue was due to come up again for discussion at the international tea convention held in Guwahati in November last year. However, that did not happen as several major tea producing countries were not present there.

Rights and issues

The other issues still to be sorted out include the voting rights of the members, the membership fee, whether there will be a permanent secretariat and if so, the location of it and the appointment of CEO. About the voting right, one suggestion has been equal right for every member.

However, there are those who feel that the countries with large production base and exports should have additional rights. The membership fee will depend on the location of the secretariat as the location will determine the cost of setting up the secretariat and having the infrastructure in place. It is not clear yet if the CEO will be selected from the open market or from the member countries.

Recognition

The member countries want the recognition of IPTF within the framework of IGG as a working group, sub-group or as a separate entity accredited by the FAO. While admitting IPTF as a working group is within the mandate of IGG, for forming a sub group, the member countries, it has been pointed out, will be required to request the parent body of the IGG, the Committee on Commodity Problems.

For establishment of a separate entity, the legal issues associated with the recognition of IPTF within the FAO constitution have to be examined and for this, IPTF has to make formal submission to the FAO Secretariat, it is learnt.