Kathmandu, January 28:

Nepali orthodox tea has been taking the market slowly, if not by storm. However, government’s apathy towards the registration of its own brand ‘Nepal Tea - Quality

from the Himalayas’ has hit the sector.

Participants at the national seminar on Nepal Code of Conduct (CoC) to strengthen orthodox tea sector of Nepal, organised by Himalayan Orthodox Tea Producers Association (HOTPA) in the valley today urged a uniform standard for Nepali orthodox tea to be marketed as a premium quality brand.

“CoC is basic for branding and HOTPA has developed it to set a standard for production, processing and marketing of Nepali orthodox tea,” said Deepak Prakash Baskota, chairman of HOTPA.

The CoC is based on the norms set by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, Codex Alimentarius, International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance and Social Accountability International.

“Implementation of the CoC is beneficial to both the farmers and entrepreneurs,” said Kamal Mainali, director of Himalayan Shangri-la Tea Producers Pvt Ltd, after receiving the CoC certificate, jointly with a representative of the small farmers.

“Himalayan Shangri-la Tea Producers Pvt Ltd is the first tea industry to get CoC certificate, other eight industries have applied for the certificate,” Baskota said adding that the CoC has four pillars; respect for the nature, people, transparent process and assured quality.

Subash Chandra Nembang, speaker of the Interim Parliament assured the entrepreneurs of his full support for the registration of the logo ‘Nepal Tea - Quality from the Himalayas’ and sustainable development of the sector.