DFNet

September 08, 2025 | The Nation |

Thailand’s Agricultural Standards Committee has approved a draft regulation requiring licensing for frozen durian producers, exporters, and importers, alongside strict post-licensing documentation for every shipment. The measure aims to prevent fraudulent repackaging of foreign durians as Thai products, protect Thailand’s agricultural reputation, and combat illegal trade. Since February 2025, exporters must also provide lab reports on microorganisms, cadmium, and banned dye BY2, ensuring compliance with international standards and avoiding trade barriers.

The Committee also endorsed five new draft standards:

1. Crop production without burning for rice, maize, and sugarcane, targeting haze and PM2.5 pollution, with stricter rules expected under the upcoming Clean Air Management Act.

2. Quality and safety standards for sweet potatoes, covering preparation, packaging, and control measures.

3. Guidelines to prevent arsenic contamination in rice, focusing on prevention, monitoring, and consumer protection.

4. Classification of agricultural products (Vol. 2) to include processed plant-based foods, aligned with Codex and Thai pesticide residue standards, supporting inspections and global trade.

5. Good practices for livestock semen production centres, ensuring quality, disease prevention, animal welfare, and accurate breeding records.

Together, these measures aim to enhance product integrity, food safety, environmental sustainability, and global competitiveness for Thai agriculture.

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