Thai Commerce Ministry Braces For EU Vegetable Ban

[webfact]

Commerce Ministry Braces for EU Vegetable Ban

As Thailand is on the brink of facing a ban on its fresh vegetable export after the European Union found contamination by insects, the Commerce Ministry will propose to the Cabinet next week for the inclusion of food safety on the national agenda to solve the problem and regain confidence among trading partners.

Secretary to the commerce minister, Praphon Milintachinda, stated that he recently met with representatives from the Agriculture Department, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the National Food Institute to discuss solutions to the European Union, or EU's, threat to impose a ban on Thai vegetable in five categories due to the existence of pests.

Praphol said both short and long term solutions have been reached at the meeting.

For a short term solution, the Agriculture Department will suspend export of all five categories of vegetable from February 1 as a preemptive move to avoid a formal EU ban.

He added any exporters found breaching the regulation will be blacklisted and immediately penalized.

For a long term solution, the Commerce Ministry will propose to the Cabinet next week for the inclusion of food safety on the national agenda to commit a serious intention to solve the problem and regain confidence among trading partners.

Praphol noted if the EU imposes a ban on Thai vegetable and agricultural products, Thailand might lose its market share of fresh vegetable in the EU to competitors and the export of other products, such as shrimp and chicken, to other key markets, such as the Untied States and Japan, may also be affected.

The five categories of vegetable that will be temporarily banned are varieties of basil, chili, bitter gourd, eggplant and parsley.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-19

[Ricardo]

"Waiter ... waiter, someone's contaminated my deep-fried grasshoppers, with chilli & basil".

"One moment sir, and I'll fetch you a fresh excuse !"

or 'Thailand - to become new Hub of insect-smuggling' ?

[slapout]

Wonder how many Thai agencies/groups are/were tasked with maintaining the standards set originally by the importing countries? For the Thai side to fully understand the checks used by other countries on imported food stuffs (which does not involve a under table payment), they should spend a couple months on the line with the importers. Then again, the Thais would probably use the knowledge to attempt to circumvent the system.

[henryalleman]

One of the most famous cancer specialist in the country give the advise to avoid to eat vegetables and fish grow and produced in Thailand to all his patients to avoid colone cancer. Everybody with a litle bot of knowledge about Thai farming knows that all vegetables and fish are poisoned with anti-biotics and chemlicals. In fact I'm surprised that its took such a long time before the EU give this ban to thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

This is absolutely inexcusable incompetence.

[hanuman1]

Having said all that, it is to be noted that the EU can get rather picky (I didn't say 'open to bribes....') about fruit & veg. For example, anyone remember the thing about imported bananas not being 'straight' or 'curved' enough? I can't remember which it was but do remember thinking that if that excuse was not bribe-based, it would be completely embarrassing for the EU.

[Hawaiian]

I was going to say that the consumer was getting an added bonus of animal protein with their

veggies.

On a serious note, farmers throughout the world have enough problems let alone the inadvertent importation of invasive species. This is a problem that can usually be resolved

tracking down the source of the contaminated produce. The USDA does this all time, whether it involves domestic or international imports. For Thailand's sake I hope this is quickly settled.

[gk10002000]

Might be nice if the article discussed what types of pests. If it is some nasties that can then run wild in the imported countries, ruin crops, etc. then I would fully support a ban. If it was just some bugs that you might eat, well, wash the food or cook it first. Goodness. Let's not be prissy.

[cme]

Having said all that, it is to be noted that the EU can get rather picky (I didn't say 'open to bribes....') about fruit & veg. For example, anyone remember the thing about imported bananas not being 'straight' or 'curved' enough? I can't remember which it was but do remember thinking that if that excuse was not bribe-based, it would be completely embarrassing for the EU.

Most of the time Brussels (EU) produces rubbish dictats, and usually very costly for the minions (that's us) to stick to, so it's good to see that occasionally they can do something worthwhile for the good of the people.

[bangon04]

"For a long term solution, the Commerce Ministry will propose to the Cabinet next week for the inclusion of food safety on the national agenda to commit a serious intention to solve the problem and regain confidence among trading partners. "

Better late than never, i suppose...

Does this imply that food safety has not so far been part of the national agenda?? even for its exports?

and the short term solution is.........

[Bagwan]

This is absolutely inexcusable incompetence.

The Thai Government will find an excuse and state that they have been victims of a misunderstanding. Then they start a campaign lauding the benefits of value added vegetables.

[ianh68]

One of the most famous cancer specialist in the country give the advise to avoid to eat vegetables and fish grow and produced in Thailand to all his patients to avoid colone cancer. Everybody with a litle bot of knowledge about Thai farming knows that all vegetables and fish are poisoned with anti-biotics and chemlicals. In fact I'm surprised that its took such a long time before the EU give this ban to thailand.

Forgive me, but what are you supposed to eat when you are over here, then?

Edited January 22, 2011 by ianh68