Page 62 - FoodFocusThailand No.200 November 2022

STRONG QC & QAQA
STRONG QC &
STRATEGIC R&D

International Trade

Regulations for

Thai Agricultural Exporters

Because of the world’s growing population and diverse consumption habits, the volume of agricultural and
food imports and exports has increased in recent years. The free trade agreement, among other things,
has made product import and export more convenient and faster. Importing products, on the other hand, is
necessary not only to meet demand but also to avoid causing harm to their people, animals, and plants after
consumption, and the products must not bring plant pests or animal diseases to the importing countries.

As a result, each country enacts laws and regulations to Agricultural Products
control the importation of agricultural products and food for the The Department of Agriculture supervises and takes care of
safety of its consumers and to make certain that the plant and agricultural and plant products before export. They will issue
animal ecosystems in the country are not harmed. That’s the a certification called a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) when
main reasons why all imported products must be inspected the product meets the quality criteria specified to certify that
and certified for quality by both importing and exporting the exported plant products are free of pests that are harmful
countries under many relevant laws and regulations. to the imported countries. However, the conditions may vary
In most cases, Thai government agencies can assist in depending on the importing country. Even if, it is not required
inspecting our agricultural and fishery products prior to export by law, exporters may request that their products be
to ensure they meet the requirements of trading partners. This inspected voluntarily to build confidence in their products
procedure will guarantee that Thai agricultural products are and can request this certificate at the Agricultural Export
always of high quality and comply with the safety standards Service Group, Bureau of Plant and Agricultural Materials
of trading partners, allowing us to earn a consistent income Control, Department of Agriculture. A Health Certificate
from agricultural commodities. As a result, the following (HC) is another type of certification that exporters can obtain
measures have been put in place to regulate certain Thai to confirm that their plant products are free of pesticide
agricultural and food products prior to their exportation. residues, human pathogens, and other contaminants that

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