The Fairtrade Tea Family Gathers in Siliguri

When representatives of Fairtrade certified tea organisations from North India, South India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar arrived in Siliguri, West Bengal, on 5 and 6 June 2026, they brought a common set of questions with them. How can Fairtrade governance in the tea sector become more transparent? What do the new EU regulations mean for estates and exports? And how can tea businesses stay viable as the climate changes around them?

TEATREY III, the annual meet organised by Fairtrade NAPP, gave them two days to work through these questions together. More than 20 management representatives from certified tea estates and companies joined the Fairtrade NAPP team and a Fairtrade NAPP Board member for sessions covering SAFTENET governance, local commercialisation of tea, standards and pricing, global social compliance in the tea sector, tea market experience in the countries of export, sustainable farming practices and advocacy. Several sessions were facilitated online by colleagues from Fairtrade India, Fairtrade Foundation and Max Havelaar France, connecting the room in Siliguri with the wider Fairtrade system. What follows is what the members took away from it.

A Renewed SAFTENET with Open Books

The most concrete governance outcome of the meet was the reformation of the SAFTENET committee, with new members added to the group. Just as importantly, it was decided that budgets will be shared periodically with SAFTENET committee members. The decision grew out of the governance session and Fairtrade NAPP’s detailed report to members on the projects undertaken so far, the budget spent and how funds can be best utilised going forward. For producer organisations, this means direct sight of how resources are planned and used, and a stronger voice in shaping those choices.

One Point of Contact for Audit-Related Queries

To improve communication and support for producer organisations, members agreed to establish a dedicated point of contact for audit-related queries. Through a dedicated email channel, producer organisations will be able to raise questions or seek clarification on audit findings, making communication more streamlined and ensuring queries are addressed more efficiently.

Cutting Through the EU’s New Pesticide Rules

Few topics drew as much attention as the European Union’s new Maximum Residue Level (MRL) requirements. Participants examined the requirements in depth, with particular focus on neonicotinoids, and heard Fairtrade NAPP’s position on the EU restriction of thiamethoxam. Fairtrade NAPP also announced that the exception for glyphosate has been extended. For estate managers responsible for export compliance, the session on standards and pricing turned a complex and shifting regulatory picture into practical clarity on what applies to their tea today and what is changing next.

Climate Change Moves to the Centre of the Conversation

Across regions, members spoke of the considerable impact climate change is already having on tea production. During the discussions on sustainable farming practices, they asked Fairtrade NAPP to continue working alongside them through projects and training that respond to this challenge and made clear that such collaboration would be valued. The message from the room was that climate is no longer a side topic for the tea sector but a shared priority that will shape investment, farming choices and support needs in the years ahead.

An Advocacy Plan Shaped by the Members Themselves

Natasha Erika Siaron, who leads advocacy at Fairtrade NAPP, presented the advocacy plan for the coming year in a dedicated session. Rather than receiving a finished document, members discussed the plan and their suggestions were incorporated into it. This means the positions Fairtrade NAPP carries into conversations with regulators, buyers and the wider Fairtrade system in the coming year reflect what tea producer organisations themselves identified as their priorities.

In Their Words

“The conference was extremely well planned and provided a valuable platform for tea producers from different regions to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and engage in meaningful discussions on the future of the tea sector within Fairtrade. The sessions and interactions were insightful, and I am grateful for the opportunity to participate.”

- Manjula Narasimhan, SAE Ltd., Kotada & Welbeck Estates, India

“I congratulate you on organizing a successful and well-structured event. Really proud that this time TEATREY was organized in North East India.”

- Rajiv Kumar, Jay Shree Tea & Industries Ltd., India

Way forward

The follow-up work is already defined. Budget and expense details will be shared with SAFTENET committee members, and the dedicated email contact for audit-related concerns will be set up so producer organisations can begin using it. The advocacy plan, refined with member input, now moves into implementation for the coming year.