EU issues stern measures on six Thai vegetables

[Admin]

EU issues stern measures on six Thai vegetables
-- TNA 2010-10-20

LONDON: -- The European Union (EU) has issued strict control measures on six Thai vegetables imported by its member countries after some Thai exporters had exported sub-standard produce in which unacceptable chemical residue was found, Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai said.

Mrs Pornthiva, now visiting England in an attempt to expand bilateral trade between England and Thailand, said the EU has imposed strict checks on eggplant, cabbage, string beans and coriander, lemon balm leaf and sweet basil -- before they are exported to EU members.

She said the EU also plans to impose a similar measure on six other Thai vegetables in future, which if implemented would affect both Thailand's vegetable exports and impact the operations of Thai restaurants operating in many European countries.

The consequences are wider than vegetables alone, as the economic community may also become reluctant Thai produce including fruit.
The names of the other six vegetables were not disclosed.

Already, exporters following the existing regulations for export of Thai vegetables to Europe must shoulder added costs of some 50 per cent as they must to send their export shipments for laboratory tests and also facing risks that vegetables could become spoil and rot as tests normally take 4 to 5 days before the perishable cargoes can be transported.

Mrs Pornthiva said her ministry is now urging the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to help check that neither chemical residues nor insecticide is found in the vegetables before they are exported.

The Thai commerce minister also met with a senior executive of Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, urging that the EU import more Thai frozen chicken and shrimp.

Also, she met with a ranking executive of Harrods, London's most famous department store, in an attempt to find ways for more Thai produce to be sold at the store. (MCOT online news)