China

2010 started well for the UTZ certified tea program with the first conference in China on sustainable tea.

The conference, a joint organization of the China Tea Marketing Association together with Solidaridad and UTZ certified was very successful and is regarded as the kickoff event to raise awareness and open the doors to the UTZ certification and traceability program in China.

More than 50 participants from the Chinese tea industry including representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chamber of Commerce, traders, exporters, brands, certification standards and professors attended the conference in Beijing.

The key theme of the day was a sustainable tea sector with a special focus on certification and traceability. The most important outcome of the conference was the common interest to set up a National Reference Group involving all important stakeholders in China.