Post by : Shakul

Thailand is accelerating efforts to strengthen food safety and agricultural biosecurity by upgrading inspection standards for imported fruits and vegetables. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve oversight of agricultural imports, protect local farmers, and enhance consumer confidence in food safety across the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Suriya Jungrungruangkit has directed senior officials to closely monitor the import, storage, and inspection processes of agricultural products. As part of this effort, Secretary to the Minister Sarawut Nueangchamnong visited Talad Thai and Navathanya World Fruit Co., Ltd. in Pathum Thani Province to assess current procedures and review plans for modernizing inspection systems throughout the agricultural supply chain.

The government aims to reduce risks associated with plant diseases and pests that may enter the country through imported agricultural products. Officials emphasized that maintaining strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards is essential not only for protecting Thailand’s agricultural sector but also for safeguarding public health and ensuring imported products meet quality requirements before reaching consumers.

A key component of the initiative is the expansion of the electronic phytosanitary certificate system, known as e-Phyto. Authorities are working to connect plant quarantine agencies in partner countries with Thailand’s Department of Agriculture and Customs Department through the National Single Window platform. The digital system is designed to streamline the verification process and improve coordination among regulatory agencies.

The e-Phyto platform allows officials to access phytosanitary information in real time before shipments arrive. This improves inspection efficiency, reduces paperwork, increases data accuracy, and strengthens traceability throughout the supply chain. Officials believe the technology will help detect potential biosecurity risks more effectively while supporting smoother international trade operations.

Government representatives noted that modernizing import inspections is becoming increasingly important as agricultural trade volumes continue to rise. Thailand imported approximately 1.71 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables worth more than 52.6 billion baht during 2025. By May 20, 2026, imports had already reached more than 586,000 tonnes, highlighting the growing importance of robust inspection and monitoring systems.

Authorities said the adoption of e-Phyto represents a major step toward creating a more transparent, efficient, and internationally aligned agricultural import framework. The initiative is expected to strengthen long-term biosecurity protections, support sustainable trade growth, and reassure consumers that imported food products entering Thailand meet high safety and quality standards.

#Asia News #agriculture #Policy #Food Safety