Commerce and Industry Minster Murasoli Maran has said that with the amendment, the industry's long-standing demand has been fulfilled, and now the producers are allowed to sell tea either through auctions or privately. The industry has been facing problems, due to fall in the auction prices during the last two years. The Government has taken several initiatives to safeguard the interest of the producers, particularly the small growers. Recently, representative bodies of producers such as United Planters' Association of South India, Indian Tea Association, Tea Association of India, Nilgiris Bought Leaf Tea Manufacturers' Association had been campaigning for amendment of the Tea Marketing Control Order, which compels every producer to sell, subject to certain exemptions, 75 per cent of his produce through the public tea auctions.