Groups vow Thai rice checks

[webfact]

RICE SCHEME
Groups vow rice checks
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation



No decline in orders, exporters say; foundation seeks talks with PM on ways to protect consumers.

BANGKOK: -- As the government scurries to restore consumer confidence in Thai rice, buyers abroad are unfazed by problems with pesticides and fumigation.

"Foreign importers are still placing orders for our rice," Wallop Pitchyapongsa, secretary-general of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said yesterday.

"Those countries understand there's a need for fumigation to get rid of insects," Wallop, who is also managing director of Capital Rice, told a seminar on Thai rice quality that was held after the use of methyl bromide and phosphine became controversial.

The Thai Rice Packer Association and Foundation for Consumers yesterday agreed to conduct regular joint tests on all brands of packed rice registered with the association and sold in the market. This move came after tests ordered by the foundation and conducted by an independent lab found traces of methyl bromide in more than 70 per cent of 46 bagged rice samples.

State agencies also plan to launch a programme of quality checks of rice in granaries and wholesale and retail shops.

The random tests will be performed by a third party accredited by international inspection agencies, said Krongthip Thanatvornlap, secretary-general of the rice packers association.

The laboratory is expected to take four days to study the samples and the test results will be revealed to the public via the association's website every month. People can learn the contamination level of agricultural chemical substances of each brand registered with the association.

"All manufacturers who are association members have complied with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation's codex," she said.

Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers, said her organisation agreed to regular joint tests of packaged rice. She claimed that the lab the foundation used was certified, but declined to identify it.

The foundation said it wanted to protect the lab's privacy and did not want the lab to suffer from any political pressure.

Representatives from the consumers foundation and Bio Thai Foundation, which co-organised the tests on packed rice, also agreed to meet with the prime minister to discuss the matter. In their statement, the foundations said that in reference to the prime minister's invitation for them to meet with her, they would like to discuss the protection of consumers.

The Thai Rice Packer Association has pressured the Foundation for Consumers to identify the lab.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said all parties should help prevent small issues from affecting Thai rice exports. She was visiting the rice packing premises of CP Intertrade Co in Ayutthaya with a large contingent of officials and media personnel.

The association's Krongthip, who is also a vice president of Sandee Rice Co, said the association needed to know the name of the inspection agency hired by the foundation so that it could show the test results to its 140 members and help them improve their production process.

"We really want to know the lot number of the packed rice samples that had been taken to run the test and the date that they had taken the samples from the shelves. We also want to know the inspection agency that had done the test," she said.

"The allegation about contamination in Thai rice has really hurt the local rice industry," she said during the seminar on "Is the quality and contamination in Thai rice in crisis?" organised by Kasetsart University.

Krongthip is now considering whether to sue the foundation, she said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-19

[kurnell]

Move along, nothing to see here

[NongKhaiKid]

The Rice Exporters Association are becoming the TAT of the rice industry.

I like the bit about about the lab's name being kept secret to prevent it coming under political pressure. Now this could be utter BS as the lab may not exist but equally, and sadly, the pressure aspect is all too believable as we know what this government is capable of.

[chooka]

So the international community love contaminated Thai rice, guess that is why the Thais have found no contamination because the wharehouses are empty, all the rice has been snapped up at bargain prices by the international community.

Sounds like the "Spin Doctor" is hard at work.

[Thai at Heart]

The association's Krongthip, who is also a vice president of Sandee Rice Co, said the association needed to know the name of the inspection agency hired by the foundation so that it could show the test results to its 140 members and help them improve their production process.

That almost sounds like a "sleep with the fish" style threat.

[Tatsujin]

A "technical" question . . . we tend to "wash" the rice anyway before cooking it (rinse it in a bowl a few times until the water turns clear) . . . does this make any difference to removing the chemical contaminants?

[Thai at Heart]

State agencies also plan to launch a programme of quality checks of rice in granaries and wholesale and retail shops.

The random tests will be performed by a third party accredited by international inspection agencies, said Krongthip Thanatvornlap, secretary-general of the rice packers association.

The laboratory is expected to take four days to study the samples and the test results will be revealed to the public via the association's website every month. People can learn the contamination level of agricultural chemical substances of each brand registered with the association.

Why do I believe that this is slightly open to manipulation? How about they are announced by say the FDA, a newspaper, or a TV channel before the bloody rice exporters association get their hands on it?

[Thai at Heart]

A "technical" question . . . we tend to "wash" the rice anyway before cooking it (rinse it in a bowl a few times until the water turns clear) . . . does this make any difference to removing the chemical contaminants?

No one is saying, so I guess not. The only claim I have seen is that it will be removed by the cooking process. So don't sniff the condensation vent on your cooker too closely, you might get a dose of methyl bromide.

[jbrain]

Krongthip is now considering whether to sue the foundation, she said.

Don't you love those hypocrites

We also want to know the inspection agency that had done the test," she said.

So we can sue them also for revealing the truth.

[OzMick]

All my doubts about vermin in the rice were erased by the first picture. Clearly visible, even with a disguise.

[chooka]

Are they wearing the masks so that they don't breathe in all the chemicals?

[bigbamboo]

It's not just the government that are scurrying around!

[webfact]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice
By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said a joint government force will be formed to inspect rice packing factories and issue certificates to verify packaged rice to build confidence on food safety among consumers.

He said the private sector will be invited to join the bidding process for 500,000 tonnes of rice every two weeks under the rice release scheme.

Traders will be allowed to check the quality of rice before bidding for the grain, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-19

[whybother]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

It's not regulated now?

[hellodolly]

The association's Krongthip, who is also a vice president of Sandee Rice Co, said the association needed to know the name of the inspection agency hired by the foundation so that it could show the test results to its 140 members and help them improve their production process.

That almost sounds like a "sleep with the fish" style threat.

"the association needed to know the name of the inspection agency hired by the foundation."

but declined to name the one they are going to use.

Sounds like the same treatment the government gives to whistle blowers.

[hellodolly]

A "technical" question . . . we tend to "wash" the rice anyway before cooking it (rinse it in a bowl a few times until the water turns clear) . . . does this make any difference to removing the chemical contaminants?

No one is saying, so I guess not. The only claim I have seen is that it will be removed by the cooking process. So don't sniff the condensation vent on your cooker too closely, you might get a dose of methyl bromide.

This is a point of vital concern to me as I had rice soup with pork sausage in it for breakfast this morning at a sidewalk food stand. Just about my most favorite breakfast when I can get the energy to go for a walk that early in the day.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said a joint government force will be formed to inspect rice packing factories and issue certificates to verify packaged rice to build confidence on food safety among consumers.

He said the private sector will be invited to join the bidding process for 500,000 tonnes of rice every two weeks under the rice release scheme.

Traders will be allowed to check the quality of rice before bidding for the grain, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-07-19

If they were doing a wonderful job anyway, they wouldn't need to follow any guidelines. Lest we forget, an MRL is MAXIMUM limit. It is not a target. This will play absolute havoc with the whole supply chain. I have worked in ag exports, where we had every single farmer under contract, gave them all the recommended chemicals AT COST and they still used whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.

The only way if you want to secure the entire supply is for each mill to have contracted suppliers and test EVERY farmers delivery for pesticides. The new costs they will incur in insuring proper compliance will be huge, in which case, one can assume they won't do it, in which case, the certificates can't be trusted.

[Thai at Heart]

A "technical" question . . . we tend to "wash" the rice anyway before cooking it (rinse it in a bowl a few times until the water turns clear) . . . does this make any difference to removing the chemical contaminants?

No one is saying, so I guess not. The only claim I have seen is that it will be removed by the cooking process. So don't sniff the condensation vent on your cooker too closely, you might get a dose of methyl bromide.

This is a point of vital concern to me as I had rice soup with pork sausage in it for breakfast this morning at a sidewalk food stand. Just about my most favorite breakfast when I can get the energy to go for a walk that early in the day.

You sure that was a pork sausage??

[hellodolly]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said a joint government force will be formed to inspect rice packing factories and issue certificates to verify packaged rice to build confidence on food safety among consumers.

He said the private sector will be invited to join the bidding process for 500,000 tonnes of rice every two weeks under the rice release scheme.

Traders will be allowed to check the quality of rice before bidding for the grain, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-07-19

If there had not been such a gigantic scam I doubt they would ever have tried to come up to international standards.

Now the whole scene has gotten so far out of hand that they are willing to do the right thing.I think the horse is out of the barn and the barn has burned down.

People who are clueless talk about how the whole world knows how corrupt Thailand is. Shows how little they know of the whole world.

But when it comes to matters of rice quality and price all the people in the world who need to know these things are well aware of what is happening here in Thailand. Also in all countries that export rice.

[hellodolly]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said a joint government force will be formed to inspect rice packing factories and issue certificates to verify packaged rice to build confidence on food safety among consumers.

He said the private sector will be invited to join the bidding process for 500,000 tonnes of rice every two weeks under the rice release scheme.

Traders will be allowed to check the quality of rice before bidding for the grain, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-07-19

If there had not been such a gigantic scam I doubt they would ever have tried to come up to international standards.

Now the whole scene has gotten so far out of hand that they are willing to do the right thing.I think the horse is out of the barn and the barn has burned down.

People who are clueless talk about how the whole world knows how corrupt Thailand is. Shows how little they know of the whole world.

But when it comes to matters of rice quality and price all the people in the world who need to know these things are well aware of what is happening here in Thailand. Also in all countries that export rice.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said a joint government force will be formed to inspect rice packing factories and issue certificates to verify packaged rice to build confidence on food safety among consumers.

He said the private sector will be invited to join the bidding process for 500,000 tonnes of rice every two weeks under the rice release scheme.

Traders will be allowed to check the quality of rice before bidding for the grain, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-07-19

If there had not been such a gigantic scam I doubt they would ever have tried to come up to international standards.

Now the whole scene has gotten so far out of hand that they are willing to do the right thing.I think the horse is out of the barn and the barn has burned down.

People who are clueless talk about how the whole world knows how corrupt Thailand is. Shows how little they know of the whole world.

But when it comes to matters of rice quality and price all the people in the world who need to know these things are well aware of what is happening here in Thailand. Also in all countries that export rice.

It is the absolute proof, that in Thailand, no one will do anything to raise standards unless there is money in it. Why haven't they been using GMP all along? This is the rice industry, the longest standing in the country for export I would guess, and yet NO voluntary control of standards by the industry whatsoever. It's a joke to be honest. They all hang ISO on the damn door, and pay the auditor once a year to buggar off. Now they will hang GMP, and probably do the same thing.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said a joint government force will be formed to inspect rice packing factories and issue certificates to verify packaged rice to build confidence on food safety among consumers.

He said the private sector will be invited to join the bidding process for 500,000 tonnes of rice every two weeks under the rice release scheme.

Traders will be allowed to check the quality of rice before bidding for the grain, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-07-19

If there had not been such a gigantic scam I doubt they would ever have tried to come up to international standards.

Now the whole scene has gotten so far out of hand that they are willing to do the right thing.I think the horse is out of the barn and the barn has burned down.

People who are clueless talk about how the whole world knows how corrupt Thailand is. Shows how little they know of the whole world.

But when it comes to matters of rice quality and price all the people in the world who need to know these things are well aware of what is happening here in Thailand. Also in all countries that export rice.

It is the absolute proof, that in Thailand, no one will do anything to raise standards unless there is money in it. Why haven't they been using GMP all along? This is the rice industry, the longest standing in the country for export I would guess, and yet NO voluntary control of standards by the industry whatsoever. It's a joke to be honest. They all hang ISO on the damn door, and pay the auditor once a year to buggar off. Now they will hang GMP, and probably do the same thing.

[tingtongteesood]

Simple answer is that countries that order Thai rice should conduct their own randomized quality controls and if something is found wrong, demand that it be rectified. Simple and easy.

[Thai at Heart]

Simple answer is that countries that order Thai rice should conduct their own randomized quality controls and if something is found wrong, demand that it be rectified. Simple and easy.

Great. So they receive all the safest best quality product and the rest stays here with no independent checking?

[jbrain]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

-- TNA 2013-07-19

I would read this announcement that all those previous years the Thai government has been allowed to export many million tonnes of rice to the western world without the rice complying to the GMP standards.

So what the hell are those standards set for?

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice

By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

The ministry originally planned to submit a request for the international production and testing practice in 2015 but decided to move it forward and apply within the next six months.

The move is to help traders of packaged rice, he said.

Dr Pradit said chemicals used in fumigating packaged rice were not dangerous to health but the Food and Drug Administration would be instructed to issue an order limiting the use of methyl bromide to not more than 50 parts per million (PPM) and aluminium phosphate at not higher than 0.1 PMM in order to meet international food standards.

-- TNA 2013-07-19

I would read this announcement that all those previous years the Thai government has been allowed to export many million tonnes of rice to the western world without the rice complying to the GMP standards.

So what the hell are those standards set for?

This applies to the whole industry forever for EXPORT only. Countries have their legal requirments and the stuff has largely complied no problem.

All the domestic stuff has not really been held to any mimimum standard whatsoever, it was just believed that it complied, because, of course, a Thai company would never do anything on the cheap, or illegal to make a few baht per kilo more. They claim that the FDA has been doing checks on the supply here, but does anyone really believe that? If they have, how come they can't produce any test results from previous years to show how safe the product in Thailand actually is? How come a brand for domestic consumption only ends up with 94 ppm of residue? I am sure there are supplies of rice that go to the international exporters produced with all the safest chemicals, pesticides and such, which never ever go onto the Thai market.

They have willfully kept foreign companies out of all agriculture business to protect the Thai companies, who, in quick time would have raised standards because of course, the foreign companies are held to a higher level of public accountability inside and outside Thailand. How come they haven't moved to GMP themselves already? Because it would cost a few baht per kilo to implement, and that's just not the Thai way is it.

It's a con on the Thai people that has been going on far too long. Next one, chicken and pork industry I suppose.

[rfukata]

A "technical" question . . . we tend to "wash" the rice anyway before cooking it (rinse it in a bowl a few times until the water turns clear) . . . does this make any difference to removing the chemical contaminants?

No one is saying, so I guess not. The only claim I have seen is that it will be removed by the cooking process. So don't sniff the condensation vent on your cooker too closely, you might get a dose of methyl bromide.

I have noticed that people here do not rinse or wash the rice thoroughly, they consider the whitish talc rinse good for your health which I totally

argue and disagree with when I have this conversation. You can more or less tell if you smell the cooked rice and yeah as T.heart has mentioned

the condensation vent will emit more than a dose of methyl bromide.