France to provide 1 million euros for Geographical Indication (GI) certification of Ceylon Tea
The French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement – AFD) implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France.
With our partners, we are building shared solutions with and for the people of the Global South. Our teams are at work on more than 4,000 projects in the field, in the French Overseas Departments and Territories, in 115 countries and in regions in crisis. We strive to protect global public goods – promoting a stable climate, biodiversity and peace, as well as gender equality, education and healthcare. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and the French people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Towards a world in common.
About French Agricultural Research Centre for Development (CIRAD)
CIRAD is the French agricultural research and cooperation organization working for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions. CIRAD works with its partners to build knowledge and solutions and invent resilient farming systems for a more sustainable, inclusive world. It mobilizes science, innovation and training in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Its expertise supports the entire range of stakeholders, from producers to public policymakers, to foster biodiversity protection, agro ecological transitions, food system sustainability, health (of plants, animals and ecosystems), sustainable development of rural territories, and their resilience to climate change. CIRAD works in some fifty countries on every continent, thanks to the expertise of its 1650 staff members, including 1140 scientists, backed by a global network of some 200 partners.
About The Sri Lankan Tea Board
Ceylon tea has been the country’s one of principal and most famous exports; for generations, it formed the backbone of the Sri Lankan economy, and plays a major part, even today, in the country’s fortunes. The Tea Board is the apex regulatory and administrative body of the Sri Lankan tea industry. First set up in 1976, it comprises representatives from both private and government bodies involved in the industry,
As the regulatory body, Sri Lanka Tea Board is responsible for regulating the activities of tea industry, viz. production, increase of cultivation, replanting, rehabilitating old gardens, establishment of factories and monitoring their operations. The whole process has been monitored and evaluated from factory to the shipment to maintain the “Quality of Ceylon tea” and many actions have been initiated to intensifying the monitoring of quality standards of tea at the point of sale, pre-shipment, warehouses of brokers, blenders and exporters and providing advisory services on hygienic blending and storing.
SLTB conducts promotional activities throughout the years to the marketing and promotion of Ceylon tea in globally, collection and interpretation of tea statistics and delivering competency of the actual markets and ability to retain and expand Ceylon tea among leading markets. With the sole purpose of protecting the Ceylon Tea brand locally and internationally, the SLTB is keen on establishing the required control systems to protect “Ceylon Tea” as a geographical Indication. Furthermore, the sector is eager to register the GI protection system in important export markets with a view to prevent the infringement and passing-off teas originating outside of Sri Lanka being marked and marketed as “Ceylon Tea”.
Press contact:
AFD – Morgane BEGON
Project Officer – begonm@afd.fr
SLTB – Chathura Fernando
chathura@pureceylontea.com
CIRAD – presse@cirad.fr