Tea Board License & Registration India | Tea Export Authorization

Tea Board License & Registration Overview

The Tea Board License and Registration in India is an official license from the Indian Government through the Tea Board to conduct activities related to the production, processing, blending, trading, and export of tea. The Tea Board is a statutory organisation of the Indian Government created under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

As India is one of the largest producers of tea and exports significant quantities of tea each year, obtaining the Tea Board Registration is essential to comply with regulatory requirements regarding quality management systems, food safety management, and packaging. 

Having a valid Tea Board License enables businesses to engage in both domestic and international tea trading. The Tea Board will provide licences according to the type of tea operation you operate (e.g., manufacturing, wholesaling, exporting).

At ComplifyXpert, we provide you with a seamless registration process for your Tea Board License with proper compliance. Get your registration done successfully so that you can work on managing your tea business without stress.

What is the Tea Board License & Registration

The Tea Board of India is a statutory body responsible for promoting the development, cultivation, processing, and export of Indian tea. It was established under the Tea Act of 1953 to regulate and support the registration of tea estates, factories, and exporters. The headquarters of the Tea Board is located in Kolkata, West Bengal.

The primary objective of the Tea Board is to ensure the steady growth of the tea industry by improving cultivation practices, enhancing quality, promoting exports, and protecting the authenticity of Indian tea.

Products Covered in the Tea Board License

The Tea Board License covers a wide variety of tea products, from raw tea to value-added tea products. Those products include:

1. General Tea Products

• Black Tea: Fully oxidized tea.
• Green Tea: Minimally processed tea.
• White Tea: Subtle tea made from young leaves and buds.
• Oolong Tea: Partially oxidized tea with a balance of flavour between black and green tea.

2. Processed Tea Products

• Instant Tea: Powder or a dehydrated, soluble form of brewed tea.
• Flavored Tea: Tea with flavours such as herbs, spices, fruits, or flowers.
• Specialty Tea: High-quality tea with organic and origin-specific varieties.

3. Package Tea Products

• Tea Bags: Individually packed tea portions.
• Bulk Tea: Tea supplied in large quantities for wholesale trade or export.
• Packaged Tea: Consumer-ready tea packed in retail packaging.

4. Value-added Tea Products

These include special tea products such as blends, infusions, and ready-to-use tea mixes made to increase market value and consumer appeal.

Why Register for the Tea Board License

You need to register for a Tea Board certificate if you want to legally deal in businesses related to tea in India. Here are the reasons that explain the importance of this license:

• Legal Requirement: It is the main requirement for businesses involved in producing, manufacturing, or exporting tea in India.
• Quality Assurance: Complying with the Tea Board ensures that your tea products follow the quality control standards and are trustworthy.
• Business Credibility: This license acts as a business quality certificate and improves your growth by giving access to tea markets.
• Export Requirement: Be involved in export and handle the legal aspects of tea products export India.
• Industry Support: Get access to tea-related training with the Tea Board to improve your business.
• Government Schemes: With commerce ministry approval, businesses can benefit from subsidies, financial assistance, and development programs of the Tea Board. 

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Tea Board Registration

If you want to apply for a Tea Board registration, there are some eligibility criteria set by the Tea Board of India. The following are the eligibility factors that you need to qualify for:

• Indian Identity: The Tea Board registration and tea export license are applicable only to Indian individuals or registered businesses. 
• Business Type: Your businesses should be involved in growing, processing, packing, blending, trading, or exporting tea in India.
• Proper Documentation: Have a proper record of your tea production, storage, and distribution to the markets.
• Compliance: Make sure your business is following all the requirements mentioned by the Tea Board.
• Supportive Licenses: Additional approvals such as the IEC code (Import-Export Code) and FSSAI license are required, depending on the nature of operations.

Documents Required for Tea Board License & Registration

If you are applying for the Tea Board Registration, you need to know that there are certain documents needed as proof of your identity or your business. It can be both personal and business documents. Below are what you might need:

• Personal Documents: This includes the personal identity documents of business owners, partners, or directors. It can be your PAN or Aadhar card, voter ID, or passport.
• Business Documents: You need to submit any documents that confirm your business registration. It can be your GST certificate, partnership deed, incorporation certificate, or an MoA/AoA document.
• Address Proof: To check your business location, you can submit an electricity bill, a rent or lease agreement, or a property ownership document.
• Phytosanitary Certificate: Your tea leaves need to be free from pests and disease-causing elements. You can prove it with a phytosanitary certificate.
• FSSAI Certification: Since tea is related to food items, you need to have an FSSAI license for food safety.
• Quality Proof: To show that you follow proper quality procedures, you might need a quality certificate.
• Import Export Code: If you are involved in the agricultural export of tea, then you might need an IEC code to complete your documentation step.

Registration Process for Tea Board License

The Tea Board License is role-specific, as it offers manufacturer registration, exporter license, warehouse license, tea garden license, and so on. The steps to register for the Tea Board License are as follows.

STEP-1. Be Prepared With Required Proofs

Before applying or registering for the Tea Board certificate, you need to have all the documents required. This makes the registration process quick and smooth for you. If you want a clear view of the documents required, you can contact us for detailed guidance.

STEP-2. Visit the Official Portal and Register

Now that you have the documents, visit the Tea Board's eGICCS portal. You can set your login credentials by providing your name, contact details, and company information.

STEP-3. Select the License Type

Once you have created your profile, you need to choose your location and the purpose for which you need this registration or license. You can select your license type as manufacturer, producer, warehouse owner, broker, or Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) for exporters.

STEP-4. Fill the Application Form

Start filling in the application details. These details need to be accurate with the documents that you give as proof. If they mismatch, then the license will not get approved. To avoid such incidents, we will take care of your licensing procedure with perfect detailing and utmost attention.

STEP-5. Upload the Documents

You can submit the necessary documents now. They can be uploaded as scanned copies. Check them twice before final submission, since any mistake can lead to license rejection.

STEP-6. Make the Fee Payment

You need to pay the applicable fee imposed by the Tea Board to carry out a deep background check before your license approval. So, make your fee payment online.

STEP-7. Submit the License Application

Now, you can submit your application and wait for updates from the Tea Board team.

STEP-8. Application Verification

Your application will be reviewed by the Tea Board team. If they need any explanation, they may ask for more documents. There are chances that they might also come for an on-site inspection or export inspection at your business location.

STEP-9. License Approval

After everything goes well with requirements and compliance, you will receive the Tea Board License from the Tea Board.

Quality Standards for Tea Board Registration

The quality standards for Tea Board registration are set to maintain the purity of the tea, product safety, and natural flavouring and also adhere to the FSSAI regulations. The key quality certificate requirements include:

• Tea must be free from harmful substances, adulterants, and prohibited additives.
• Meet compliance with low use of pesticide residues, contaminants, and heavy metals.
• Use allowed natural flavours and ingredients in flavoured teas, and avoid other flavours.
• Tea should follow a grading certificate with qualities like being packed in hygienic, food-grade materials for freshness and quality.
• Follow hygiene practices in tea cultivation, processing, and manufacturing for safety standards.

Export Procedure for Tea and Tea-related Products

To export tea and tea-related products, you might need to follow the steps below:

1. The mandatory step to export tea is to get an IEC code from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). You need to have it before applying for export authorization.
2. Now, apply for a Tea Board export license by checking the above-discussed registration procedure.
3. To benefit from the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), you can apply for RCMC with the Tea Board. It supports your business profile of tea products export India.
4. Your application will be reviewed and will be granted the RCMC certificate if you comply with the policies.
5. Once you receive the tea export license, you need to conduct quality and lab testing to get a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) and receive other proofs like the FSSAI license and phytosanitary certificate.
6. You need to submit the export contract details to the Tea Board for monitoring and regulatory purposes.
7. Now, you need to prepare the export documents like the shipping bill, invoices, packing list, and the certificate of origin.
8. Complete the customs clearance step with a shipping bill to ship your tea products.
9. Upon successful shipment, you can receive the payment for it.
10. Maintain export records and submit required returns or reports to the Tea Board on a monthly basis.

Modification in the Tea Board License

Once you receive your Tea Board License, and if you feel you would need a license modification, the Tea Board offers an option for that. You can apply for a modification, and this makes the records up-to-date and relevant to your business operations.

You can apply for a modification from the Tea Board and carefully choose the suitable form for exporters, manufacturers, and cultivators. Then, submit all the documents relevant to the changes. Now, make the fee payment to complete the process.

Your changes will be reviewed, and a modified license will be issued for you. If you find them difficult to modify, reach out to us to get to a smoother solution.

Returns Filing With the Tea Board

Businesses that have a Tea Board License are supposed to submit returns filing like monthly, quarterly, or annual returns filing. The timeframe is dependent upon the Tea Board. This returns filing helps ensure that production, sales, and export activities are properly documented and monitored.

The Tea Board has set up two different forms for filing returns, like

• Form E: It is for tea manufacturers and needs to be done monthly. This covers tea production, green leaf prices, and sales data.
• Form F: This form is for tea buyers, and it is done quarterly.

The timeframe for each form is different, and if you want a detailed overview or guidance on returns filing, we, ComplifyXpert, can simplify the process and make it hassle-free.

Renewal of Tea Board License

To have an uninterrupted or undisrupted tea business operation, you have to make sure that your Tea Board registration and license are renewed on or before the expiry date. Usually, these renewal times are set based on the industry type.

You will receive an alert from the official Tea Board body for your license renewal. It will be sent 30 days prior to the expiry date. You can pay for renewal and keep the business on track without any interruptions.

Benefits of Tea Board Registration

The benefits you can gain with the Tea Board registration and license are:

• Allows businesses to legally produce, process, and export tea.
• Ensures compliance with safety and hygiene standards.
• Builds trust among customers, buyers, and trade partners.
• Highly export tea and tea-related products to international markets.
• Protects brand identity and promotes acceptance of Indian tea globally.
• Facilitates proper monitoring, record-keeping, and smooth business involving tea products.

Penalties for Not Using Tea Board License

Not having the Tea Board license or registration can lead to the following penalties and issues:

• Monetary fines will be charged as per the Tea Act of 1953.
• Tea products or stocks may be seized by authorities for non-compliance.
• Your tea products can be disposed of if the license is cancelled or renewal has been rejected.
• Your business can be suspended, or your license can be seized if you are not meeting the regulatory standards.
• Tea exports will be stopped if you don’t have a valid license.

Why Choose ComplifyXpert for Tea Board Registration

ComplifyXpert offers complete support for the registration of tea boards so you can complete your license with minimal time and effort. All the details of your license process, including necessary documents will be handled by us. Here are some reasons to consider us:

• Affordable Services: The tea board license and registration can be processed affordably and without quality loss of work.
• Compliance Guarding: Our team will help you understand compliance requirements, manage paperwork, file returns, and renew your license.
• Proper Guidance and Updates: You will have timely updates, so you will know exactly where your application is in the registration process.
• End-to-end Support: From the time you submit your application until your license is renewed, you will receive support throughout this entire process. You will not have the hassle of using multiple service providers.
• Proper Safety Measures:  All your documents are handled in a safe and secure manner. We assure you we will protect them at all times.

Register with Tea Board Today - Export Tea Legally

Tea Board compliance can be tricky and time-consuming. But we make it simple with our experts' service. ComplifyXpert helps you register and meet all legal requirements to export tea smoothly in India. Contact us today!