The Russian Association of Tea and Coffee Producers was established in 1999 under the wing of the Russian Federation Ministry of Agriculture and has been cooperating with it under a special agreement. The following major national tea and coffee companies are members of the Association: Ahmad Tea, Food Empire, Jay Rus, Imperial Tea, Krasnogorsklekarstva, May, Megapolis, Мoskovskaya-kofeynya-na-payah, Moscow tea factory, Nadin, Orimi Trade, Paulig Rus, Russki Product, Sunty (joint venture of Grand Trade House and Tata Group), Sapsan, Slavcoffee, Universal Food Technologies (joint venture of GC Avalon and G.V.Gokal), Tea World, Strauss. The Rusteacoffee Association is engaged in popularizing tea and coffee, enhancing their consumption in the Russian Federation, and improving product quality, lobbying national tea and coffee industry interests with governmental authorities to create appropriate regulations for the respective market. The Association is a member of ITC (International Tea Committee), PSCB ICO (Private Sector Consultative Board of International Coffee Organization), SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America), SCAE (Speciality Coffee Association of Europe), 4C Association, Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation and represents the Russian Federation in the Consultative Committee of Common Fund for Commodities.