The industry is facing increased challenges by the way of awareness among consumers on the need for using safer, healthier and more environment-friendly products. The Tea Board of India has decided to defer full implementation of the plant protection code (PPC) which was to be effective from September 1. It has now been deferred till January 2015. The PPC is a comprehensive document, which lays down the manner in which chemicals are going to be used safely, in tea cultivation. The aim is to achieve sustainability through Good Agricultural Practices, including integrated pest management by gradually reducing dependence on chemicals. In March, the Tea Board had issued a directive in this respect exercising its powers under the Tea Marketing (Control) Order, 2003. Enquiries revealed that while the bigger players were ready, the small tea growers, who now accounted for over a third of India’s tea output, said that they needed more time and some hand-holding by the Tea Board The Tea Board said that the tea industry was facing increased challenges by the way of awareness among consumers on the need for using safer, healthier and more environment-friendly products. The need for judicious use of plant protection formulations has become imperative, and a PPC was developed by the Board. The Code’s focus is on responsible chemicals management. In its circular on the deferment, the Tea Board said that “considering representations made by the industry requesting for some more time, it has been decided to defer the implementation of three clauses of the PPC notification of March till the end of the ongoing season — December 2014. It said that all other provisions of the code would some into force from Monday. The three provisions whose implementation has been deferred pertained to declarations on conformity to the PPF. Source: thehindu.com/business/Industry/tea-board-defers-plant-protection-code/article6370351.ece