FOOD SAFETY & CERTIFICATIONS
What is FSSC 22000?
What is C-TPAT (CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERS AGAINST TERRORISM)?
What is USDA ORGANIC?
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an organization pursuing continuous improvement of food safety management systems. This is done to ensure the delivery of safe food to consumers worldwide.
Though GSFI is not a certification system in itself, a food safety certification program is recognized by GFSI when it meets internationally recognized requirements developed by industry experts.
The Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) was designed to provide companies in the food industry with an ISO-based management system that GFSI recognizes.
In addition, FSSC 22000 defines requirements for integrated processes that work together to control and minimize food safety hazards.
What is USDA ORGANIC?
What is C-TPAT (CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERS AGAINST TERRORISM)?
What is USDA ORGANIC?
Our primary vendor strictly follows the National Organic Program (NOP) that applies to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for the safe production of organic products.
It integrates FSSC 22000, GMP, C-TPAT, COR, and the European Union (EU) Organic program to ensure consistent, organic products.
NOP guidelines prohibit:
- The use of pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage-sludge-based fertilizers
- Mixing organic and non-organic tea and other herb products
- Organic products from coming into contact with banned substances
Annual audits ensure all processes are in order and documentation is up-to-date.
Our primary vendor is a USDA NOP Certified Organic Food Handler, certified in compliance with the US-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement terms.
What is C-TPAT (CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERS AGAINST TERRORISM)?
What is C-TPAT (CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERS AGAINST TERRORISM)?
What is C-TPAT (CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERS AGAINST TERRORISM)?
TIER 2 CERTIFIED IN GOOD STANDING SINCE 2005.
US Customs and Border Protection implemented C-TPAT ensures the secure transport of goods into the USA.
Our primary vendor participates in this program, meaning that it plays an active role in the war on terrorism.
C-TPAT certification ensures our goods travel swiftly across borders.
Compliance includes:
- Random hazard analysis testing
- Screening of all suppliers in their countries of origin
- Detailed employee background checks
- Extremely high levels of the shipping container and conveyance scrutiny
- Annual audits
- Our primary vendor undergoes an annual audit to ensure that C-TPAT documentation is maintained.
What is SFCR / FSMA?
WHAT IS GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
What is C-TPAT (CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERS AGAINST TERRORISM)?
SFCR / FSMA With the increasing complexities of modern food production, the government of Canada and US food safety focus is shifting towards the prevention of foodborne illness.
The Safe Food for Canadian Regulations (SFCR) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) were implemented to manage these complexities. Facilities covered by SFCR and FSMA are required to have and implement a written food safety plan that includes:
- Hazard analysis
- Preventive controls
- Process controls
- Food allergen controls
- Sanitation controls
- Oversight and management of preventive controls
- Monitoring Corrective actions
- Verification Supply chain program
- Recall plan
WHAT IS GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
WHAT IS GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
WHAT IS GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
Fully integrated within our FSSC 22000 program, our GMP program outlines policies designed to ensure the safety and purity of our tea products. All of our employees are trained on the following:
- Employee hygiene & hand washing
- Health and injury status
- Use and storage of clothing in our facilities
- Use of appropriate footwear, headwear, equipment, and utensils
- Regulated traffic flow throughout our facilities
- Strict control over any chemical usage
- Identification of allergens, related controls, and procedures
Additionally, the following are not permitted within any of our production facilities:
- Eating
- Drinking
- Smoking
- Gum chewing
- Spitting, sneezing, or coughing over tea or tea contact surfaces
- (Surgical-style masks are worn for enhanced protection.)
WHAT IS AIR CARGO SECURITY (ACS)?
WHAT IS GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
WHAT IS GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
Our primary vendor is CERTIFIED IN GOOD STANDING SINCE 2016.
The Air Cargo Security (ACS) Program was designed to protect travelers and efficiently keep goods moving in and out of Canada.
As global shippers, our primary vendor rigorously adheres to all program points.
While participation is voluntary, we believe in helping create a safer global environment for everyone.
To be considered for membership in this program and remain in good standing, our company:
- Completed a comprehensive application and vetting process
- Conducts ongoing inspections
What's S-QAP?
What is KOSHER certified?
What is KOSHER certified?
When it comes to the safety of our products, our primary vendor doesn't take chances. Their rigorous Safe-Tea© Quality Assurance Program (S-QAP) follows a robust list of procedures and certifications to ensure safety at every step of the supply chain- this includes annual audits of our entire operation.
Our primary vendor understands that additional food safety measures are needed. To compensate, they have developed programs to address tea industry issues that are often off the radar of some government agencies.
Enhanced food safety standards
Their safety standards exceed those of some regional governments. For example, in the case of agricultural input residue, we follow and exceed European standards as our baseline. These are known to be the highest in the world.
Additional self-funded initiatives include:
- Annual inspection of tea estates by our primary vendor personnel
- Annual visits to supplier factories and packing facilities
- Annual visits to port facilities
- Voluntary recalls
What is KOSHER certified?
What is KOSHER certified?
What is KOSHER certified?
Our primary vendor undergoes a regular audit to ensure that Kosher is maintained. Kosher refers to a set of intricate biblical laws that detail the types of food that a Jewish person may eat and prepare it.
To be certified Kosher, all ingredients in every product, and the process of preparing the product, must be certified for orthodox kosher compliance.
What is Vegan certified?
What is KOSHER certified?
What is Vegan certified?
Our primary vendor undergoes a regular audit to ensure that Kosher is maintained.
Veganism is a vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products, and animal-derived ingredients.
Our vegan products are marked with the VegeCert symbol.
social & sustainability
ETHICAL TEA PARTNERSHIP
RESPONSIBLE TEA PRODUCTION
RESPONSIBLE TEA PRODUCTION
The Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) is a not-for-profit organization that convenes tea companies, development agencies, and governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve the lives of communities within the tea sector.
We are very proud to say that our primary vendor works in partnership to tackle the deep-rooted issues that are holding back the sustainability of the tea sector.
What issues are we talking about?
- Improving the incomes and well-being of farmers and workers
- Improving living conditions and nutrition
- Improving the lives and opportunities for women and young people in tea communities
- Reducing gender-based violence Improving climate change resilience.
To find out more about the ETP and its role at the center of tea sustainability, please go to:
Our primary vendor is a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership!
Ethical tea tastes better.
Are you currently buying teas certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership?
You should.
RESPONSIBLE TEA PRODUCTION
RESPONSIBLE TEA PRODUCTION
RESPONSIBLE TEA PRODUCTION
The Luxury Tea Difference
1. Luxury quality teas are hand-plucked. This means reducing reliance on fossil fuels and pollution with virtually no CO2 output. (Japan is an exception. There, luxury teas are harvested by machine.)
2. Tea plantations absorb CO2.
The better run the estate is, the more carbon is absorbed. In addition, most of the estates our primary vendor deals with use renewable timber and old rootstock for fuel, further reducing emissions.
3. Luxury estates rehabilitate the soil. Fields are rotated and left fallow on a regular schedule.
4. Better botany means less reliance on pesticides. Many of the luxury teas we carry are pesticide-free. As a matter of fact, many luxury tea areas (i.e., Darjeeling, Kenyan Highlands, or Sri Lanka) can support tea 100% free of pesticides, thanks to the high altitudes. (Tea pests can't survive.)
When these policies are followed, luxury estates thrive, providing jobs, housing, education, and medical care for workers and their families.