A new lab was inaugurated in Siliguri today for testing the quality standards of tea as per international standards.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Quality Control Laboratory and Capacity Building Centre at the Tea Park in Siliguri.
The state-of-the-art laboratory has been set up by Tea Board under Assistance to States for Infrastructural Development on Exports (ASIDE) scheme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry at a cost of Rs 9.47 crore, officials said.
A capacity centre for training and workshop has also been set up at the laboratory to promote organic tea cultivation at Darjeeling and north Bengal.
Officials said the lab has high-end equipment to detect pesticide residue, heavy metals in tea besides analysing biochemical and other regulatory parameters.
Tea Board is in the process of obtaining NABL accreditation by this year which is a key for maintaining highest quality standards.
