JAKARTA: The increasing volume of tea imports has infuriated local tea farmers. Therefore, the farmers urged the government to strictly curb the rate of tea imports. One way is to do certification. The Indonesian Tea Council (DTI) asked the government to implement tea certification, both for local and imported products. “Moreover, domestic tea plantations are showing a downward trend,” said Harry Hendrarto, Secretary of DTI, Tuesday (22/1).
JAKARTA: The increasing volume of tea imports has infuriated local tea farmers. Therefore, the farmers urged the government to strictly curb the rate of tea imports. One way is to do certification.
The Indonesian Tea Council (DTI) asked the government to implement tea certification, both for local and imported products. “Moreover, domestic tea plantations are showing a downward trend,” said Harry Hendrarto, Secretary of DTI, Tuesday (22/1).
The certification includes product testing, plantations and factory operations. For imported products, certification is also not much different but is focused on importers.
Internally, DTI has actually implemented a certification called a Lestari tea certification. DTI noted, the number of tea farmers who have obtained this certificate reached 11,653 farmers with 6,575 hectares (ha) of tea land.
In the last three years, the growth rate of tea imports has continued to increase. The Ministry of Trade noted that Indonesia’s tea imports grew by 15% to 20% every year.
Throughout 2011, Indonesia recorded tea production reaching 140,000 tons, and last year it was projected to increase 7.14%, to 150,000 tons. Of the total local tea production, 35,000 tons or 25% is produced by smallholders, 72,800 tons or 52% from state-owned plantations and 32,200 tons or 23% from private plantations.
The demand for tea for the domestic industry reaches 85,000 tons per year, consisting of black tea and green tea. Meanwhile, tea imports reach 20,000 tons every year. Imported tea is usually used as an additional raw material for processed tea products.
For information, local tea prices range from US$ 1.6 to US$ 1.7 per kilogram (kg). Meanwhile, the price of imported tea, particularly from Vietnam, is only US$ 0.9 per kg. Therefore, Harry hopes that the tea that enters Indonesia is of high quality, not waste.
The government continues to review the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) for tea products. “With SNI, the legal basis is clear,” said Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi. The government also intends to increase the import duty on tea products, which is currently 5% for each type.
Source: http://industri.kontan.co.id/news/pemerintah-perlu-sertifikasi-produk-teh/2013/01/23
