§ Sir J. REMNANTasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the desirability of fixing a standard for tea, such as is done in America, below which none should be imported into this country; and whether he will give 'the suggestion favourable consideration?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am informed that imports of tea into the United States require to conform in quality with one of about half a dozen standard samples, and that these standards are fixed yearly by a committee on which are represented Government officials and the trade. All tea imported into this country as merchandise is subject to examination under the Food and Drugs Act, 1875, and must be certified by inspectors or analysts specially appointed for the purpose, as satisfying 275W the requirements of the Act. Under that Act tea may be reported against
- (a) if mixed with other substances;
- (b) if exhausted;
- (c) if, in the opinion of the analyst, the tea is unfit for human food.
The analyst's standard as regards (c) is a high one, and I am informed that it would exclude mouldy or decayed tea, but would not exclude any genuine tea. I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of the Minister of Health, but I am advised that any attempt to fix grades of quality with which tea would require to conform in order to be admitted into this country would tend to check the importation of sound low-priced teas to the embarrassment of those consumers who find the price of high quality teas beyond them.