Talawakelle Tea Estates achieves International Organic Certification as the plantation company secured globally recognised approvals for its renowned Great Western and Logie tea garden marks, strengthening Sri Lanka’s position in the premium organic tea segment.
Talawakelle Tea Estates achieves International Organic Certification for premium tea exports
Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, a member of the Hayleys PLC Plantations Sector and one of Sri Lanka’s leading Regional Plantation Companies, announced that it has obtained internationally recognised organic certification covering key global markets. The achievement enables the Company to market certified organic teas produced under its prestigious Great Western and Logie estates.
The certification includes compliance with three major international organic standards: the European Union’s EU Organic Regulation, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP-US), and the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) for organic products. The milestone significantly enhances the Company’s ability to expand its reach in premium international tea markets where certified organic products continue to see rising demand.
Industry analysts note that the achievement comes at a time when the global tea sector is increasingly focused on sustainability, traceability, and environmentally responsible cultivation methods. The certification strengthens the Company’s positioning within the highly competitive organic tea exports market while also supporting the broader growth ambitions of the Sri Lanka tea industry.
Commenting on the achievement, Talawakelle Tea Estates Director and CEO Nishantha Abeysinghe said the certification marked the culmination of more than four years of dedicated effort to establish a fully compliant organic cultivation and processing framework.
“We are proud to reach this significant milestone after more than four years of dedicated effort to build a fully compliant organic cultivation and processing system that meets stringent international standards. This achievement shows the strength of our partnerships with the Tea Research Institute (TRI) and internationally qualified consultants and, most importantly, the commitment and collaboration of our estate and corporate teams,” he stated.
According to the Company, the certification process required substantial operational transformation across cultivation, manufacturing, monitoring, and sustainability management practices. Talawakelle Tea Estates assigned dedicated full-time personnel from its estate operations and corporate sustainability division to oversee every stage of the organic value chain, ensuring continuous compliance with global standards.
The Company also developed a comprehensive end-to-end organic cultivation and processing management system covering all stages from field-level agricultural practices to final tea manufacture. The system was designed to maintain strict oversight of organic integrity, traceability, and product quality throughout the production cycle.
The achievement is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s reputation in the international specialty tea market, particularly as buyers increasingly prioritise certified sustainable products with transparent sourcing practices. Organic teas typically command premium pricing in export markets, providing plantation companies with opportunities to diversify revenue streams and improve long-term competitiveness.
Market observers also believe the certification could support further innovation within the Sri Lanka tea industry, encouraging more plantation companies to invest in sustainable agriculture and environmentally responsible production methods. Sri Lanka’s tea sector remains one of the country’s most important export industries, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings and rural employment.
With the newly secured certifications, Talawakelle Tea Estates is now positioned to supply premium organic teas to a wider range of international buyers seeking products that meet globally recognised environmental and quality standards. The Company stated that the certification framework established over the past several years will support its long-term sustainability and export growth strategy.