GMP launched for Thai food industry

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok: - The Office of Industrial Economics, Industry Ministry, has launched an awareness campaign, dubbed “Eat Safe, Eat Smart”, to ensure good manufacturing practice for Thai food.

Food producers and caterers should adopt GMP, recognised as the international standard on food production, in order to boost the consumer’s confidence in food safety, OIC director general Udom Wongwiwatchai said.

Udom said the Thai food industry should strive for GMP certification for the entire process of food production from raw materials, preparations, cooking and processing, distribution and serving food to consumers.

At present, revenues of the Thai food industry account for 23 per cent of GDP. The annual growth rate is 10 per cent. The projection for food export earnings would increase from 300 billion baht to 1.2 trillion baht by 2018.

This year’s food exports will amount to 1 trillion baht.

The Thai food industry generates about 800,000 job positions and yields direct benefits to 20 million farmers.

Some 79 Thai food manufacturers have been certified for GMP.

Japan is the biggest export market for Thai food products. Last year Thailand earned 129 billion baht from exporting food to Japan.

The Food Institute of the Industry Ministry is planning to introduce small- and medium-enterprises for Thai food to the Japanese markets.

Earlier this month, the institute organised a business trip to take 50 SMEs for Thai food to attend the 40th International Food and Beverage in Tokyo.

In addition to meeting with Japanese buyers, Thai food manufacturers paid a visit to a food production plant in Hokkaido in order to gain first-hand experience on what Japanese consumers would expect on food safety.

[HeijoshinCool]

I don't believe Japan is the biggest importer of Thai food products. The Japanese tend to hate Thai food, and the very lack of hygiene observed when preparing it.

What does that leave? Seaweed? Fish?

[jerojero]

GMP is not an international standard. It is generic process meaning Good Manufacturing Practices that can be defined or adapted to all manufacturing. HACCP and GFSR (Global Food Safety Resource) Programs are world wide standardized and accepted Certifications. International bodies such as BRC is true food safety Certification. GMP while good practice, means nothing formally nor recognized as such. Thailand will not reach these standards without direct, ongoing involvement and active input from the West.

Edited March 16, 2015 by jerojero

[farangmick]

One good manufacturing practice would be to hang beef for a few weeks in a cool room, since Thai beef is about as tender as an inner tube.

[jerojero]

One good manufacturing practice would be to hang beef for a few weeks in a cool room, since Thai beef is about as tender as an inner tube.

It's all in the feed. Australian beef is grass fed, Canadian and USA grain fed. What's in Thailand, rice. Too lean feed, too lean tough beef meat!