New lab in Siliguri to test tea quality

A new laboratory was inaugurated in Siliguri on Tuesday 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 scheme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry at a cost of Rs 9.47 crore.

A capacity centre for training and workshop has also been set up at the laboratory to promote organic tea cultivation.

The lab has high-end equipment to detect pesticide residue in tea besides analysing biochemical and other regulatory parameters.