As the European Union (EU) plans to reduce the maximum residual limits (MRLs) for agrochemicals such as Thiacloprid and Thiamethoxam, which are used to control pests in tea gardens, the Indian tea industry is seeking the Government’s quick approval for alternative molecules that are safe and compliant with the EU standards to sustain exports.

According to reports, the EU proposes to lower  the MRL for Thiacloprid from May 2025 while reducing the limits for Thiamethoxam and Clothianidin from March 2026, which has raised concerns among tea exporters. Europe is the second largest market for Indian tea exports after the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region.

“We will have to look at using alternate molecules which are safe and EU compliant to ensure that our crop production and exports to the EU are not affected due to the proposed change in MRL norms”, said K Mathew Abraham, President, United Planters Association of South India (UPASI).

Output drop

The EU plans to reduce the MRLs for Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam, and Clothianidin to 0.05 mg/ kg from 10, 20, and 0.7 mg/kg. Thiamethoxam and Thiacloprid are used for TMB (tea mosquito bug) and thrips control in tea plantations in South India.

This year, there has been a significant drop in Indian tea production due to climate change and an increase in the incidence of pest attacks. It was important to ensure that tea production in India does not get further affected by these new EU restrictions.

The UPASI President complimented the Government, CIBRC (Central Industrial Board-Registration Certification) and FSSAI for taking proactive steps and giving approval for alternate molecules like dimethoate which has enabled the industry to tackle the damage due to pests like TMB to a great extent in South India.

UPASI and TRA Tocklai are also developing data on alternate and safe molecules which are also EU compliant like Acetamprid, Imidacloprid among others while seeking approval from CIBRC and FSSAI to control pests like TMB and avoid crop loss.

Exports up in value

The tea industry welcomes the proactive support from CIBRC and FSSAI to protect the growers from further crop loss and is hopeful for ad hoc, approval for also other potential and safe insecticides such as Sulfoxaflor, Dinotefuran, Tolfenpyrad, combination of Beta Cyfluthrin and Imidacloprid for use in tea. These molecules have been evaluated by UPASI TRF and found to be effective in controlling TMB, Abraham said.

In view of these new restrictions from EU, the UPASI President said immediate support and help is being sought by the tea industry from the Commerce Ministry, CIBRC and FSSAI for approving these safe alternate chemicals, which is critical, as the tea industry is reeling under severe financial crisis and any reduction in production due to TMB and other pest attack may cause irreparable damage to the tea industry.

India’s tea exports have risen by 14.15 per cent in value terms during the April-January period of the current financial year 2024-25 at $768.09 million from$672.85 million in the year-ago period. The WANA region was the largest destination for Indian tea exports, accounting for $267 million, Europe at $159 million, NAFTA at $97 million, and CIS countries at $75 million. Overall, tea exports from India during FY24-25 stood at $825.98 million.

Industry sources said nearly 40 million kg of Assam tea stands to be affected by the EU stance and it could result in Assam CTC (crushed, tear and curl), which has higher cuppage, finding its way into South India and affecting the region’s CTC market in case its shipments are rejected.