We were concerned to read the distressing article in The Guardian in relation to the treatment of workers on tea estates in Sri Lanka. Tetley does not source a significant volume of tea from Sri Lanka, but this does not lessen the need to investigate and ensure any necessary action is taken.

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All our major suppliers are mandated to sign The Tata Supplier Code of Conduct as part of our procurement policy ...

We have contacted the suppliers who sourced the tea for us, they were not aware of the detail shared, but are conducting their own enquiries.

We only buy Rainforest Alliance certified teas which means that the farms that supply our tea, whether directly or indirectly through a third party or auction, will have been independently audited against a rigorous set of standards.

We have put an urgent request for any information that can be shared on the audits carried out by Rainforest Alliance and the action that they propose to take in view of what has been reported.

Whilst we need to allow time for the process of investigation and plan for remedial action to be completed, we have instructed our suppliers Sunshine Holdings and Uniworld tea to suspend purchase from these estates until investigations can be completed and a plan of action proposed to our satisfaction.

Full response below.