Recognizing the need to regulate production, promotion of overseas marketing and to control recurring instances of imbalances in supply and demand, which lead to market problems, the Government of India established the Tobacco Board, in place of Tobacco Export Promotion Council, under the Tobacco Board Act of 1975. The Board came into existence from 1-1-1976 with its head quarters at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The Tobacco Board Act aims at the planned development of Tobacco Industry in the country. Various activities of the Board outlined in the Act for the promotion of the industry are.

• Regulating the production and curing of Virginia Tobacco with regard to the demand in India and abroad.

• Constant monitoring of the Virginia tobacco market, both in India and abroad and ensuring fair and remunerative price to the growers and reducing wide fluctuations in the prices of the commodity.

• Sustaining and improving the existing international markets and developing new markets overseas for Indian Virginia Tobacco and its products and devising marketing strategies in consonance with demand for the commodity including group marketing under limited ..brand names.

• Establishing auction platforms for sale of Virginia tobacco by registered growers and functioning as an auctioneer at auction platforms either established by it or registered with it.

• Recommending to the Central Government the minimum prices to be fixed for exportable Virginia tobacco with a view to avoiding unhealthy competition amongst the exporters. (under its exim policy, Government have decided to abolish fixation of M.E.P. with effect from 1-4-1993).

• Regulating in other aspects of Virginia tobacco marketing in India and export of Virginia tobacco having due regard to the interests of growers, manufacturers, dealers and the Nation.

• Propagating information useful to the growers, dealers and exporters (including packers) of Virginia tobacco and manufacturers of tobacco products and other concerned.

• Purchasing Virginia tobacco from growers when the same is considered necessary or expedient for protecting the interests of the growers and disposing it in India or abroad as and when considered appropriate.

•  Promoting tobacco grading at the level of growers and Sponsoring, assisting, co-coordinating or encouraging  scientific, technological and economic research for promotion of tobacco industry.

ISO 9001:2000 Certification to Tobacco Board

Tobacco Board in furtherance of its objectives, desired to improve its excellence by rendering superior services to the utmost satisfaction of its customers namely, growers and traders in a systematic manner.  M/s. Det Norkse Veritas (DNV), Netherlands has bestowed the honour of ISO 9001:2000 certificate to Tobacco Board for having established quality management systems confirming with ISO 9001:2000 standards.  Tobacco Board has begun to implement systems aimed at achieving product integrity and traceability, model project area and quality circles concept to improve the quality of tobacco leaf to meet the requirements of importers.  Board is committed to meeting the needs of customers.  Board advises all the Indian exporters to obtain ISO certification with a view to meeting the expectations of the global market.