Since December 2017 due to the alleged detection of a ‘Kappra Beetle’ in the outer packaging of a container of Ceylon Tea to Russia, the two nations took a mutual decision to fumigate every empty container prior to stuffing of tea from Sri Lanka for shipment to the Russian Federation. This mandatory requirement was strictly enforced by the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Agriculture in Sri Lanka for almost two years. A consensus was reached where the mandatory requirement of fumigating empty containers in Sri Lanka prior to stuffing tea for shipment to the Russian Federation was no longer necessary. This decision was taken as not a single ‘Khappra Beetle’ or such traces were found after the fumigation process was undertaken. The hard work of the Tea Promotion Division of the Sri Lanka Tea Board helped to do away with the costly exercise and will be a boost for exporters of Ceylon Tea to the Russian Federation, a spokesman for the Board said.

Source: Sunday Observer October 05, 2019 20:03 UTC