the india sustainable tea program - trustea

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The India Sustainable Tea ProgramThe India Sustainable Tea Program is formally launched on 11th of July,

2013 with the purpose of making Indian Tea industry sustainable.


About ‘The India Sustainable Tea Program’

The India Sustainable Tea Program is a locally developed and owned Indian sustainability tea code.

It has been developed from the industry, by the industry and for the industry.

This meaningful, cost-effective and practical code does not compromise on globally accepted core sustainability standards (ETP, RA, UTZ and FLO) and is based on industry realities and globally accepted sustainability principles.

The program supports smallholders and estates in improving the competiveness of tea gardens by increasing the scale of production, farm-organization, processing, new technologies and supply chain development. The specific requirements related to estates, factories and smallholder groups are also mentioned in the Code.


Trustea CodeAbout ‘Trustea Code’ (draft)The ‘Trustea Code’ (draft) is designed to evaluate the social, economic, agronomic and environmental performance of the Indian tea estates, smallholders and bought leaf factories (BLFs).

It is envisioned that the compliance with the code will not only improve competiveness amongst the tea farms but will also enable them to achieve a compliance with national regulations and international sustainability standards in a step-wise approach.

The verification under the code provides consumers with the assurance of responsible production and provides producers the opportunity to credibly demonstrate this to their customers.

The certificate holder will either be a tea company, the bought leaf factory or the producer group. However, the code will cover all aspects of production and manufacturing.

The India Sustainable Tea Program


Trustea Code

The Compliance Mechanism

The code is designed towards a progressive achievement of complete compliance by the Year 4. The ‘Mandatory’ and ‘Other Criteria’ have been divided into four segment, the verified unit will have to meet 100% of the mandatory control points and 50% other criteria and 50% other criteria in Year 1, 60% in Year 2, 70% in Year 3 and 80% in Year 4. If a control point is not applicable, it will have to be adjusted accordingly for percentage of control points required for verification. But a non-applicable control point will not get an additional percentage point.

In the first year the entity needs to undertake external verification audits by auditors approved by the code secretariat as per the verification protocol and then such audits will be conducted every alternate year. In the years with no external audit, the verified unit must conduct internal audits and supply the audit report to Indian Tea Code secretariat.

The total compliance percentage points (Mandatory and Other Criteria) are 81%, 84%, 87% and 90% in the first, second, third, fourth year respectively.



Management system and continuous improvement

1

Product Traceability2

Soil Conservation & Management 3

Water Management4

Fertilizers5

Crop Protection Program (CPPs)6

Food Safety7

Health, Safety and Welfare of the Workforce8

Working Condition & Labour Rights9

Biodiversity and Environment Management10

Waste & Pollution Management11

The ‘Trustea Code’ consists of 11 Chapters which are as follows:

Trustea CodeThe India Sustainable Tea Program


Management system and continuous improvementProduct Traceability

Soil Conservation & Management

Water Management

Fertilizers

Crop Protection Program (CPPs)

Food Safety

Health, Safety and Welfare of the Workforce

Working Condition & Labour Rights

Biodiversity and Environment Management

Waste & Pollution Management

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

This will help plan, implement and monitor the unit’s compliance with the code. An efficient system will help in reducing the cost of compliance significantly and will help assess the progress from Year 1-Year 4.

It includes a policy to demonstrate compliance with the code and enable continuous improvement and designated personnel and coordinator to manage compliance.

It requires map of the entity, legal requirements and its compliances, internal audit system and non-compliance redressal procedure including complaint filing process. Finally, a policy on principles of business ethics also has to be made available.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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2

3

4

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6

7

8

9

10

11

This requires development of a clear and visually identifiable system and process for avoiding the mixing of verified products with non-verified products in its facilities, including harvesting, handling, processing and packaging of products as well as transportation.

Documented record and a designated person responsible for the same are also required.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





1

2

3

4

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6

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9

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11

This chapter highlights the principle of good manufacturing practices for soil management; soil conservation; improvement of soil fertility and prevention of soil erosion.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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11

This chapter aims to ensure that the units (farming activities, factory processing and household water) are using water efficiently, with minimal loss and optimum use.

It aims at preventing water pollution and preserving water for future generations.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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2

3

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11

This chapter aims to ensure that fertilizers are selected, applied and stored as per recommendation of a competent government institution.

This will help to maintain soil fertility; minimize impacts on humans, wildlife and environment and achieve optimum productivity.

It also aims to enhance soil fertility using various techniques.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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The CPP helps tea growers and manufacturers to maintain the yield and quality of tea leaf production.

This code encourages tea growers to critically review and reduce the use of CPPs wherever possible and apply CPP in the best way possible.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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This chapter helps the factory move towards compliance with several Indian legislations (like Food safety and Standards Act, 2006) and gain greater control over the quality, safety of tea and reduced rejection.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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The units are required to analyse and strive to prevent all potential adverse effects on the health or working conditions of workers and have an action plan in place to reduce and prevent the risk of accidents in the workplace.

This requires a policy, management system, risk assessment, tools, training and facilities to carry out work in the safest way possible.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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The units are required to comply with national and state labour legislations that apply to tea industry.

This includes aspects like Freely chosen employment; Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining; Child labour and young workers; Discrimination and Equality of treatment; Working hours; Wages and other social benefits; Working conditions; Disciplinary actions and Grievance mechanism.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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This chapter aims to reduce the impact on the land and the habitat of native species.





Water Management

Fertilizers


Food Safety





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2

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9

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11

This chapter aspires to measure the amount and type of waste produced, reduce the amount of waste, re-use products where possible, recycle and properly dispose all the remaining waste.

This requires a waste management plan; creating awareness on the plan, and having clear procedure for safe storage, handling and disposal of hazardous and non- hazardous wastes.

Energy use also has to be monitored and units should aim at improving energy efficiency.



Farmer Support Centres (FSCs)

The program offers producers training in the code compliance, free of charge, through three Farmer Support Centres (FSCs).

The main function of the FSCs will be providing • Technical support on-field• Strengthening smallholder cooperatives• Providing training to trainers and • Providing support to estates and smallholders in preparing audits and

undertaking improvements.



Benefits The India Sustainable Tea Program aims to improve the livelihood of smallholders and estate workers. Thus, securing long-term sustainability of the Indian tea industry will significantly benefit all stakeholders of the tea industry.

It aims to

• Develop a sustainable tea industry in India• Support higher yields addressing supply security• Improve consumer safety leading to reputational benefits and better

consumer loyalty• Improve hygiene in factories addressing food safety issues• Control and improve safe handling/use of pesticides• Improve environmental performances• Realize livelihood improvement of tea workers• Improve image of Indian tea locally and globally


Implementing Partner Technical Advisor Funding Body


The India Sustainable Tea Program is formally launched on 11th of July, 2013 with the purpose of making Indian Tea industry sustainable.

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