Similar International Standards
SLS 134:2015Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), Sri Lanka
HighCurrent
Specification for Plywood Tea Chests
Specifies materials, dimensions, and construction requirements for plywood chests for packing tea.
BS 6570-3:1986British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom
HighWithdrawn
Recommendations for packaging of tea for transport and storage - Specification for plywood chests
Provided specifications for plywood tea chests, historically a key standard for the international tea trade.
KS 02-35:1977Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya
HighCurrent
Specification for plywood tea-chests
Covers the requirements for plywood tea chests manufactured in Kenya, another major tea-producing nation.
ISPM 15:2019International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), International
LowCurrent
Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade
Overlaps on the requirement for phytosanitary treatment (e.g., heat treatment) of all wood components for export.
Key Differences
≠IS 10:2000 provides a specific list of permissible Indian timber species for veneers and battens, whereas equivalent standards like SLS 134 list species native to their region (e.g., Sri Lanka).
≠While IS 10 focuses on construction, it does not inherently mandate phytosanitary treatment. For export, chests made to IS 10 must separately comply with ISPM 15, whereas newer standards like SLS 134 often incorporate references to ISPM 15 requirements directly.
≠There are minor differences in specified moisture content limits. IS 10 allows up to 18% for wooden battens, while some international standards like SLS 134 are stricter, specifying a maximum of 15% for all wood components.
≠The national certification marking is different. IS 10 mandates the ISI Standard Mark, while SLS 134 requires the SLS mark from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
Key Similarities
≈All standards mandate the use of Boiling Water Resistant (BWR) or equivalent Weather and Boil Proof (WBP) grade plywood for the chest panels, ensuring durability in humid conditions.
≈The fundamental construction is identical across standards, specifying plywood panels, wooden battens (internal or external), metal edge fittings for reinforcement, and often metal clips for closure.
≈All standards specify standardized chest sizes (e.g., Full, Half, Quarter) with very similar internal dimensions, designed to hold specific net weights of tea and facilitate efficient stacking and palletization.
≈The requirement for an inner lining, typically kraft paper-backed aluminum foil, is a common feature to protect the tea from moisture, external odors, and to preserve its aroma.
≈Testing procedures for the completed chest, such as end compression tests and corner drop tests, are specified in IS 10 and are conceptually similar to those in other international packaging standards to ensure performance.