Overview
- India’s food regulator clarified on December 24 that only beverages from Camellia sinensis qualify as tea under existing standards.
- Items marketed as rooibos, herbal, or flower infusions cannot use the word tea and must be named to reflect their true nature.
- Such products may be classified as proprietary foods or require approval under the 2017 non‑specified foods regulations, depending on ingredients.
- All food business operators, from manufacturers to e‑commerce platforms, have been directed to comply, with violations triggering action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- State and UT commissioners and FSSAI regional directors have been told to enforce the directive, as tea industry groups like NETA welcomed the move for consumer clarity.