New Standard Sets Safety Requirements for Tea Bags

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced India’s first dedicated safety standard for tea bags, establishing requirements for tea bag materials, packaging, labelling, and manufacturing practices. The new standard, IS 19787:2026, aims to improve consumer safety, product quality, and transparency across the tea bag industry.

As part of the standard, BIS has banned the use of epichlorohydrin, a chemical previously used to strengthen tea bag paper that studies have linked to potential health risks, including cancer. The standard also prohibits chlorine bleaching and the use of microplastics in tea bag materials, encouraging manufacturers to adopt safer packaging alternatives.

Manufacturers Must Meet New Material Standards

The standard requires manufacturers to produce tea bags using only virgin pulp derived from papyrus or bamboo. They may use plantain (banana) fibres to improve the strength and durability of the paper.

Manufacturers must also ensure that the paper, thread, tag, adhesive, and ink used in tea bags comply with food safety requirements. Every component that comes into contact with tea must pass migration tests to confirm that harmful chemicals do not leach into the beverage during brewing. In addition, manufacturers must use cotton thread to attach the tea bag to its tag and food-grade ink for printing brand names or other information on the tag.

Standard Strengthens Labelling and Quality Requirements

BIS has also defined the amount of tea each bag should contain. Single-use tea bags must hold 1–4 grams of tea, while larger tea bags intended for multiple servings may contain 4–25 grams. To improve traceability and consumer awareness, manufacturers must include key product details on the label, including the producer’s name and address, batch number, manufacturing date, best-before or expiry date, storage instructions, and other mandatory information.

A New Benchmark for Safer Tea Bags

The new standard establishes India’s first comprehensive benchmark for tea bag safety. Although compliance is currently voluntary, IS 19787:2026 encourages manufacturers to adopt safer materials, improve manufacturing practices, and enhance product transparency. The initiative is expected to strengthen consumer confidence and support higher food safety standards across the tea industry.

Source: Manorama