Thailand deals with issue of contaminated vegetable exports

BANGKOK, 24 January 2011 (NNT) – Thailand will invite representatives from the European Union (EU) to inspect the quality of Thai agricultural produce after Thai vegetable exports have been halted temporarily due to contamination of quarantine pests.

According to Thai Trade Representative (TTR) Kiat Sitthiamorn, the Thai Ambassador to Brussel on 25 January 2011 will seek talks with the EU to propose solutions to quarantine pests found in five groups of Thai vegetabes.

Mr Kiat said the Thai side would propose to inspect the agricultural produce from origins as well as invite EU representatives to help inspect the vetgetables in Thailand. This would help those good Thai entrepreneurs to avoid impacts from the export suspension.

There are five main groups of agricultural produce suspended from export to the EU, including Ocimum Spp, Capsicum Spp, Solanum melongena, Momordica charantia and Eryngium foetidum, comprising 16 vegetables.